Tyranny of Steel

Months had passed since Mizuno Ai had first started attending Westpoint, and since then, her burgeoning friendship with a young man named Julian Weber had stagnated. Though the two of them spent much time in the library, Julian still considered Ai to be a nuisance, who constantly interrupted his library time.

Currently, Julian was eating from a cup of microwaveable noodles, as it was the only thing he could really afford to eat on his budget. Ai gazed at him with curiosity, as he seemed to only tolerate the meal. She could not help but ask the question in her mind.

”Julian? ”

The young man sighed heavily as he heard this interruption from his reading, and slowly placed down his book, where he begrudgingly answered the girl ’s question.

”Yes, Ai? ”

Ai wore a pretty smile as she continued her train of thought.

”Have you ever had actual Ramen before? ”

Julian shook his head before responding to the young Japanese woman ’s question.

”No, too expensive… ”

It was at this moment that Ai learned something interesting about Julian ’s background. He appeared to be very poor. She knew in that moment that she had an opportunity to get closer to the man and quickly insisted on something that Julian had not expected when this conversation began.

”Then it ’s settled. Friday night you are coming over to my parents ’ house, where I will cook you some actual ramen! It is a crime to only eat cupped noodles every day! ”