Bittersweet Memories || Nishimura Riki

Entry Four

November 21, 2022

Even long before we dated, you would call me Miso.

Yes, Miso as in miso soup.

After our encounter, we grew closer. I got used to your presence. We didn't hangout as much in school, we mainly got together after school at cafes and ramen shops.

I learned a lot of things about you. Other than basketball, you were talented in dancing. Your birthday was December 9 and you were born in Okayama, Japan. You also enjoyed art as a hobby. You had two sisters, one that I had briefly met once, Konon. And so much more.

That day, we had decided to go to a ramen shop together on the weekend.

We found a table near the window. You had ordered soba noodles while I had ordered shoyu noodles in miso soup.

When the waitress came with our food, I took a whiff of it. It was mouth-watering. I could barely stop myself from drooling at first sight. Mindful that I had company, I decided to not slurp my noodles obnoxiously like I usually do.

It was oddly quiet between the both of us, but the comfortable kind. Usually, both of us were brimming with stories to tell each other. That was okay though. The small chatter of people around us was just all white noise to me.

When I had finished, I looked up. I was surprised to see that you still hadn't touched your food. Instead, I found you staring at me eating my food intently, which kind of freaked me out.

"Uh... Ni-ki?" I ask timidly, playing with my napkin

"Yes, Miso?"

You threw the name so casually that I didn't know whether you were talking to me or some stranger behind me.

I frown. "Miso?" I questioned, turning to look behind me. No one looked in our direction so I turned back.

You smile. "Yeah. I thought since I had a nickname, you should have one too."

I looked down at my empty bowl before back at him in confusion. "You named me after the dish I was eating?"

"No, silly." A chuckle escaped from your mouth. "Your last name's Min right? So take the Mi from Min and So from Sori and then you have Miso! Same way you get Ni-ki from my nickname."

You seemed strangely proud of yourself making a nickname for me. I bursted into laughter. "How random of you," I mused, instinctively flicking your forehead. Normally, I wasn't the one to get touchy with someone. In the past, I would've never done this. But I had grown accustomed to your presence.

"Yah!" You yelped, attempting to scowl, only to fail miserably. "I'm not weird!"

I grin, leaning back on the chair. "Whatever you say, Ni-ki." I replied.

You raise your noodles with your chopsticks threateningly. "Oh shush, Miso."

And from there on, the name stuck.

I found the nickname to be both endearing and amusing. It was sweet in a way, how much thought you had put into crafting a nickname like yours. It was also pretty ironic since I really loved the taste of miso soup.

This was a fond memory of mine and I didn't want to lose it.