TPMITWON Chapter 15: Food Stall

Several ideas began to cross Souta's mind—small business, investment, or perhaps something more creative. However, every idea that came up was always accompanied by various challenges and limitations. After a few minutes of thinking, Souta finally let out a long sigh and shook his head slowly.

"Haah... For now, it's better to focus on saving," Souta murmured, before finally taking a few bills and putting the rest away.

After closing the cupboard, Souta headed towards the front door, took the keys, and opened the door. As soon as the door opened, the hot wind typical of Sunagakure greeted Souta. He then stepped outside and, before leaving, made sure to lock the door again.

As he turned around, the typical view of the village welcomed Souta. The sand buildings stood tall under the brightening sky. A few people could be seen walking in the distance, going about their respective activities.

However, before Souta could move down, the sound of a door opening next to him caught his attention.

Souta turned and saw someone coming out of the adjacent apartment. A girl with orange hair, a calm face, and a relaxed demeanor.

Pakura.

Today, Pakura was wearing simple clothes—a slightly loose green t-shirt, black shorts that allowed her to move easily, and a dark green skirt that fell just above her knees. Pakura's outfit looked comfortable while still maintaining a simple impression.

Souta fell silent.

To be honest, Souta wasn't good at talking to kids. Worse yet, his social skills were quite pathetic.

After a few seconds of confusion, Souta finally opened his mouth.

"Yo?" Souta greeted awkwardly.

Pakura looked at Souta with a flat expression before responding briefly, "...Yeah."

Silence.

Souta scratched his head, trying to find a way to continue the conversation.

"Uh... Uhm... Are you also looking for food for breakfast?" Souta finally asked.

"That's right," Pakura replied, then casually locked the door to her apartment.

Souta thought for a moment, then said, "If that's the case... let's eat together."

Pakura didn't seem hesitant. "Sure," Pakura replied simply before starting to walk down from their apartment floor.

Souta let out a sigh of relief and followed behind Pakura.

They walked side by side, along the increasingly busy streets of Sunagakure. The hot air was becoming more palpable, even though the morning had not fully turned to noon. Some residents could be seen selling goods, opening simple stalls along the roadside that offered various necessities.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally found a simple soup stall.

The stall's building, like most buildings in Sunagakure, was made of compacted sand. The structure looked simple but sturdy enough.

As they pushed the clay sliding door and entered, the stall appeared empty. There was only the aroma of boiling broth and the soft sound of water flowing from a large pot behind the main counter.

Inside, there was a long table directly connected to where the stall owner cooked and prepared food. Wooden chairs lined the table, creating a simple yet comfortable atmosphere.

Without much conversation, they quickly sat down in the available chairs.

Their first meal of the day was about to begin.

...

...

...

"Hello kids, so what would you like to order?" asked a woman who seemed accustomed to her routine.

The woman was somewhat plump, with fair skin and long black hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Her black eyes appeared friendly, although there was a hint of fatigue visible at the corners, like a woman who had spent years serving people in this stall. Her voice was soft and warm, still radiating confidence.

Souta looked at the woman with overflowing curiosity. "Ah, what do you have, if I may ask, auntie?"