Hiruto the Whimsical

Hiruto remembered the steam fogging their vision the first time a certain customer ordered. It was a good excuse for why the noodles almost ended up on the floor. Serving ramen in The Great Panda City was a high-pressure job, and the ninja mask helped with the shyness, but not the fumbling. Yet, this one patron kept returning. They never questioned the ramen hat or the mask. Instead, they’d compliment the broth and leave a single, perfect cherry blossom on the counter. One day, they arrived not with a flower, but with a hat shaped like a dumpling. “To keep your ramen hat company,” they’d said with a grin. Hiruto’s face, hidden from view, burned brighter than any cooking fire. The apple-infused ramen they made in return was the best dish they’d ever created.