Love In a Bowl

Chapter 7: No-Show Replacement

It has been a week since that day. Majima's waiting for them again. There hasn't been any customers today, so at least he has them to buy his Ramen.  Then just as last week, Lily Shows up first, now pulling up with a car. But her comfort focused outfit is always noticeable. Majima greets her before she even goes to sit down. "Good Evening, Lily. What can i get you?" 

"Just the usual, Mr.Majima. Shoyu Ramen.". "I even got drinks now, anything?". "Oh, yeah there's more stuff on the Menu, i thought it's just a redesign." Lily says surprised before looking at the menu, Something she hasn't needed to do in a while. Just as Majima said, it has drinks; Just Ocha, And water. 

"I'll have the Ocha". "Classic, Shoyu Ramen and an Ocha, Coming up.",. Lily then sits down. She looks around behind her, She seems to be looking for someone; Majima suspects it's Simon so he asks as he's preparing her bowl, "Looking for Simon, kid?". She replies with a confirming hum. "We'll, he'll show up." Majima assures her. 

She reaches into her tote bag and pulls out a manga again. She's reading something else, Not a manga Majima seems to recognize despite his son's massive collection of it.

Then shortly after, just as last week, Majima finishes Lily's bowl and serves it to her. She closes her manga and claps her hands before she eats. But even though she's purposefully eating slow, She managed to finish her ramen before Simon shows up. "Well, i still got the Ocha" She audibly says to herself. "Damn, the only time i didn't confirm if he's showing up; he doesn't.". She says as she opens up her phone and types something in before putting it back down to finish the Ocha. 

"Well I'll see him tomorrow." She says before she decides to linger. She pulls out her Manga Again and starts reading it to pass the time instead of leaving. Majima comments on this, "Not going home? I'm not that desperate for company, you know." As he's washing the bowls. "Is that so, Majima-san?".  "That is so." Majima retorts.

Silence ensues as Lily keeps reading. Majima quietly sits down at the stool across from Lily just being on his phone. This kept on until an hour later which Lily asks Majima a question that would change the mood of the air.

 "Majima-san, I've heard some stuff from Simon about you.". "Which part?" Majima's slightly concerned. "Your daughter.". "Yes, what about her?". "I'm sorry to hear that-" Lily's cut off. "No, Thank you, It's fine. She's in a better place now.". "I should be the one to say that, i think.". "Yes, but I've since moved on from it; Just like she would've wanted me to.". 

"A year is quite quick, isn't it? Majima-san.". "She would've haunted me if i wallowed for longer, wouldn't she?" Majima laughs a little. "So, since you heard about it from Simon, You had heard how she passed?" Majima asked. "No, Simon never indulged little details like that..". "Well, It's from lung Cancer." Majima explains, yet his tone does not waver. "She didn't go through with any therapy, wanted to live a normal life until the end. I was against it, but it's what she wanted. There doesn't seem to be anything we could do." Majima tears up a bit but his tone still doesn't waver. "So I let her live, And on one day, her body gave out."

"Sorry for making you say all this, Majima-san." Lily gives her condolences. "Nah, It's okay kid."

Short silence ensues, interrupted by a phone call. It's Lily's. She picks up and what Majima could hear was

"Hello?", "Oh, dad. What 's up?", "I'm at the Ramen shop i usually go to.", "Oh, okay I'll bring the car right back." 

Lily looks back, "I have to go, my dad wants his car back.". "Go ahead, i'm not stopping you." Majima waves his hand, shooing her. "Have a good evening, Majima-san. Thanks for being open."  Before getting in her car, starting it, and speeding off. 

In the silence that fills the room again, Majima says to himself "Well i replaced A no-show with whatever i had, huh." Before getting up and getting behind the counter to wait for customers.