Mr. Tsukada Satake began to adapt to life in Tsuna-no-soba.

Actually, life here is good.

Every day, just like everyone else, do your own thing, just practice how to make a soba with a "real flavor".

Letting go of those things in the studio, he felt relaxed and relieved, no longer having to think about business, no more picking out the details of comics, no more worrying about sales.

Eat regularly and get enough sleep.

The bloodshot in his eyes that had not faded for a long time was no longer visible, and slowly, the migraines and tinnitus were no longer there.

In the light no buckwheat, it is very easy to get satisfaction.

Every time a new guest comes in, an old member leaves.

His ranking in the store will be unsurprising, and it will rise naturally, and there is no intrigue between "colleagues" at all, and everyone is harmonious.

Half a year has passed in a flash.

Satake Tsukada, who washed his body and mind in the Tsunashi buckwheat, felt as if he had really found his "true self".

And then one day.

There is another customer in the Lampno Soba shop.

The door opened, and the bell rang.

You can see that the customers who walked into the store were the same as Tsukada Satake, the same suits and leather shoes, the same tired faces, and blank eyes, which formed a stark contrast to the other happy and always comfortable companions in the store.

Mr. Tsukada did see his former self in that person.

"Guest, how long has it been since you have calmed down and tasted the food?"

"Guest, you will find your own self here, just like me."

Mr. Izawa, who made the soba noodles this time, was able to leave after he had finished making the noodles carefully.

After sending Ize away, the new man in the suit finally began to get angry: "Hey! Why won't the door open all of a sudden, what the hell are you freaks up to!? ”

Rushing.

Tsukada Satake, along with the others, took a step forward.

The movements are uniform.

"If it's too hot, or if it's cooked for a long time, it will be loose and soft, and it will lose its original flavor."

"Relax. You also need to soak in cold water for a while to find your resilience. ”

Tsukada Satake: "Wash yourself well, wash away those useless impurities, and then you will become clear and clean, and return to the basics." ”

From slandering the clerk at the beginning, to understanding the clerk later, and now becoming a clerk.

Mr. Tsukada has finally become exactly like everyone else.

But what's so bad about that?

What's so bad about being able to leave distractions behind and find the simplest satisfaction and happiness here?

……

Then, life in the buckwheat of the lamp was peaceful as usual, and a few months passed without any waves.

The night afterward.

At once, three customers with tired faces came to the store, led by a young man in casual clothes.

Because the number of new customers is higher than before, Satake Tsukada, who is in third place, also needs to cook noodles for the guests this time.

But it didn't bother him.

How to make a soba with a "true flavor", Tsukada has practiced too many times.

He dressed in the overall chef's attire and began to make it religiously and earnestly.

"The temperature of the water should be right, and the time to cook the noodles should be appropriate. If it is overheated, or if it has been cooked for a long time, the soba noodles will also be distressed. As the distress accumulates, the noodles will become loose and soft, and the noodles will lose their original flavor......"

Like those who have left, Tsukada tells juniors and diners about food and how to behave.

After the soba meal was finished, he turned around and went to the hidden door of the store, silently changing into his original clothes.

It's time to leave......

When I first arrived, I couldn't wait to get out.

And when he can really leave now, his heart is not so happy.

Can life in that complicated world outside really be happier than in a soba shop?

Tsukada couldn't say.

Squeak –

The wooden gate was pushed open.

This time, there was no resistance.

The scene outside is vague, and it is an unknown vast world that does not know what is surging.

The lights in the store are bright and warm, everything is as usual, it is very bright, everything is traceable, and there are simple rules to follow.

Tsukada turned back to the juniors and nodded to the three diners who didn't know why, and then walked out with the other two companions.

The moment he stepped out the door, the scene outside became clear.

Satake Tsukada appeared in a small alley in Sumida Ward.

"Things in the studio ......"

Mr. Tsukada breathed in the fresh and free air and began to think about the past.

It has been more than half a year since he entered the lamp-free buckwheat.

Maybe the studio has long since gone out of business?

It may also be still in business for some reason, but it has definitely changed owners.

In short, you don't need to worry about it anymore, do you?

Satake Tsukada thought so.

At this time, the mobile phone in his pocket began to vibrate violently.

Buzzing.

Buzzing.

Tsukada took out his mobile phone and saw countless notifications popping up one after another like dense snowflakes.

[7 days ago: Mr. Tsukada, the manga drawing has been completed, do you want to take a look?] ]

[7 days ago: Mr. Tsukada, I can't contact you, is there something wrong?] ]

[6 days ago: Mr. Tsukada, the animation team needs you, so please come back quickly.] ]

[6 days ago: Mr. Tsukada......]

[Missed call] [Missed call] [Missed call] [Missed call] [Missed call] [Missed call] [Missed call]......

[……]

Those reddened communication messages seemed to be about to squeeze out the screen and engulf the overwhelmed Tsukada.

"Why? I obviously ......"

It's only right that I've been gone for more than half a year.

Why was he still chasing him with all the complicated affairs he had to deal with during that time before he entered the Dengwu Buckwheat Shop?

Tsukada Satake suddenly felt suffocated, and the sky was spinning.

"No, you can't leave like this."

I don't know why.

Completely unable to adapt.

I have already made up my mind to return to the original crowded society, but also to live a simple life, and to find my true self.

Why do these messages keep coming?

Tsukada didn't know what to do, and after spending more than half a year in the lampless buckwheat, he instinctively relied on that comfortable and simple environment, and he turned around suddenly: "Go back!" I'm going back! ”

"Everyone, calm down! You have been saved! ”

Tsukada heard someone shouting at him, and he was grabbed by the wrist and pulled away.

Boom.

Tsukada fell to the ground.

The mobile phone in his hand was still vibrating annoyingly, he looked blankly at the strange environment around him, and felt uneasy and scared for no reason, so his expression was distorted, and his voice trembled:

"No, it shouldn't be like this! The Outside World...... It sucks! Let me go back, I want to go back! ”

……

"Mary!"

Kamiyagawa hurried forward, pulled out a text, and summoned Mary.

In the midst of the fading lampless buckwheat, he felt the breath of Buddhist mantras vibrating.

Kanazawa, who should have entered it, are trying to attack this strange building from the inside.

Before Kanazawa Xingluo and the others entered the Dengwu Buckwheat, everyone had a discussion.

If they feel that the insiders are trying to attack, it means that Kanazawa, who is deep in it, has already made a judgment that this building can be demolished!

At this time, Kamiyagawa will quickly support.

If it's slow, Kanazawa and them will probably be packed and taken away by Dengwu buckwheat!

Click.

The sound of hard heels stomping on the ground sounded.

"In front of you."

Mary's red and black dress swayed out in a thick red mist, and the red lantern in front of the buckwheat shop was above her head, and the light emanated faintly shrouded Mary's light veil and dignified coiled hair.

Red has always matched her very well.

Syllable!

The heavy machete swung out and slammed into the door panel of the lampless buckwheat.

With this knife, sawdust flew all over the place, and most of the storefronts of the soba noodle shop were slashed open.

The attack works.

Kamiya felt more confident in his heart, he could already feel that the breath of Kanazawa and the others had reappeared in reality, so he cooperated with the sword light and slashed forward.

As the Lampless Buckwheat building began to collapse, Sanskrit whispers could be heard coming from inside.

and screaming in panic—

"Damn, what are you guys doing!?"

"You're going to ruin this place!"

"Stop, stop!"

“……”

Boom Boom –

The wooden longhouse continued to crumble, with debris and dust flying.

The bright red sign lantern "clicked" down on the damp alleyway, and the scattered candle flame ignited the lampshade, and the handwriting on it became blurred and blurred in the firelight.

"Twenty-eight, hand-cut noodles, udon noodles"

The strange story of the building without "signs of life" such as the lamp no buckwheat still does not seem enough when it encounters the brute force of the ghost god of Aragami Mary.

Three times five divided by two, most of them were dismantled.

To be able to dismantle and destroy the otherwise intact building in such a wanton manner, Mary seemed to be in high spirits.

When the lampless buckwheat completely collapsed, Kanazawa Xingluo and the three of them came out of it with a disgraced face.

He also brought out six strangers in white uniforms, with a dazed and bewildered expression.

"What have you done, what have you done? How can you destroy it? ”

Merely.

The white uniforms who were rescued didn't seem to be grateful to the soul slayers.

……

Tonight's operation, because of the addition of Kamiyagawa, seems to be quite smooth.

Subsequently, naturally, the personnel of the countermeasures room arrived, preparing to take away the nine people who had escaped from the Tsunashi buckwheat, and briefly sealed off this alley area in Sumida Ward.

Street in the early hours of the morning.

Kamiyagawa, who had nothing to do, crossed his hands in front of his chest, leaned against the entrance of the street, watched the police car siren lights on the street continue to flash red and blue lights, and watched the countermeasures personnel go back and forth, calculating tonight's gains and losses in his heart:

"It's strange that after the demolition of the building, there are no soul crystals and materials...... But in the countermeasures room, I should be paid a certain amount based on my support performance, right? ”

It's still the same, and it's not a loss.

What were the resources I had at hand before I came out, and what are they still like now, so I didn't go out in vain?

After that, you have to think carefully about how to polish the action report you hand in to get back to your blood.

"Kamiya."

After a while, Master Kanazawa, who had finished handing over the situation with other colleagues, came over, and he was still a little embarrassed at the moment: "Thank you for your timely action outside." If I hadn't had your support tonight, I'd probably have to stay in Lamp No Buckwheat as a Buckwheat Immortal. ”

"Is that an exaggeration?" Kamiya, who was originally leaning against the wall, straightened up, "By the way, what is it like in the lampless buckwheat?" ”

"It's ordinary, but how to put it, there's a bit of a warm feeling." Kanazawa Xingluo scratched his head, "And it is full of a strange atmosphere and power, which is estimated to be able to subtly affect people's hearts." In addition, the perception of the passage of time when you are inside is different from that outside. ”

In terms of Kamiya's feelings, Kanazawa and the others only stayed in the Lamp No Buckwheat for about ten minutes tonight.

But it seemed to Kanazawa that they had actually been inside for hours.

"So, if you really stay in the candleless buckwheat for a week, or even a month, you may be the same as the other parties when you come out?"

"Probably so. After a long time, I'm not sure if I can resist the effects of that power. ”

"And now? If you eat the soba noodles in the Lampless Soba Table, you may have been affected a little bit by that power. ”

"Uh......"

"However, as a Buddhist disciple, you should have done some practice to get rid of material desires. And then you're a disciple of Honganji, and you haven't had such an opportunity before, so maybe it's a good thing to be affected a little? ”

Because he is familiar with Kanazawa, Kamiya can already joke with him without presumptuousness.

"Don't say that. Don't look at me like this, I usually practice. ”

"Ah, disrespectful, disrespectful."

Kamiya was talking to Kanazawa, and at a certain moment, his black pupils suddenly condensed slightly, and he looked past the Kim monk Shangze in front of him, and saw Mr. Tsukada Satake, who was wearing a blanket, and was taken by the police into the police car from a distance.

"The head of the animation studio...... I'll have to find a way to get in touch with him again. Although the buckwheat has been removed, it is not known how much of the impact on him will remain. And he probably doesn't see me as the benefactor who saved him now...... It's hard. ”

Kamiya thinks that he will see this gentleman again later.

At least through his formal contact with Tokyo's cultural industry circles, he can smoothly get online, even if this action is not in vain.

Because Kanazawa has entered the lampless buckwheat, has also eaten the soba noodles inside, and listened to the parties instilling chicken soup for the soul, he roughly knows the process inside, and he can guess what will happen next.

Through his dictation, Kamiya also learned more about this special tale of Sumida Ward.

In general, the situation of the lantern buckwheat is to attract people who are tired and busy late into the night due to work, and trap them in the store.

And the set of ideas in the store of "abandoning distracting thoughts and finding the original self" is imperceptibly instilled into the minds of the parties.

Perhaps it's really easy to go to two extremes.

Once these workaholics were originally very ambitious, they embraced this idea, and they were as convinced as converts.

These people, who may be trapped in the lampless buckwheat, will really begin to enjoy a life with very low materialistic desires and can obtain simple and fulfilling satisfaction.

It has become the form of the light no buckwheat.

“…… It's really a strange story that is hard to evaluate. ”

"Agreed."

Kamiya and Kanazawa sighed at each other.

Then, Kamiyagawa looked up at the sky above the city at midnight. The black and oppressive clouds crowded on the roofs of the tall buildings, gloomy and oppressive, gray and unshining.

In Japan during the Reiwa era, those who had been lying flat were really lying, but those who were still rolling were also really rolling.

Take, for example, Kamiya's own experience of going to school.

Japan itself is a developed country, and it has been many years since it got rid of poverty, so compulsory education is definitely not involved. You can get out of class at half past two in the afternoon, and primary school education is all kinds of coaxing children to play, if you want to lie flat like this, it's okay, but the Japanese elite can't eat this set.

Elite children have to be involved in all kinds of extracurricular tutoring since they were young.

Japan's extracurricular tutoring has formed a very complete industrial chain, and the goal is to accurately export to high-quality junior high schools, high schools and universities, and it is very difficult for students outside this rule to get in.

Not to mention others, the little witch of Onizuka is a living example of elite education.

And the social environment is like this from the beginning, and when it comes to the workplace as an adult, the situation is naturally not far behind.

"I'm sorry, sir. There is an accident ahead, and you are no longer allowed to pass, so please take a detour. ”

Outside the cordon set up by the countermeasure room.

A confused pedestrian in a suit and carrying a briefcase was stopped by the police.

It was obviously a social animal who had just gotten off work, with deep exhaustion and numbness on his face, and just glanced into the cordon, didn't say anything, nodded and turned away.

Only in the reflection of the street lamp at night, a blurred shadow that grows longer and longer and sways is left.

And now it's three o'clock in the morning.

In this world, weird talk never dies, but may reappear in one form.

As long as the "Seven Incredibles of the Institute" is still circulating, as long as Japanese society is still in a high-pressure form, there is still no love in life, and there is still a busy overtime until late at night.

Then someday -

Perhaps in Tokyo, in Osaka, on a street corner in Nagoya, the signboard lantern with the words "Erhachi, hand-cut noodles, udon" will once again sway out of the blurred night.

When you walk into the store, you will see the warm yellow lights.

You'll meet a chef who is a little eccentric, and his mouth is inexplicable chicken soup, and he will bring out a cold buckwheat noodle with a friendly smile on his face:

"It's a lot of trouble. Guest, would you like a simple soba meal? ”

(End of chapter)