"Dude, I hooked you up with someone—a friend of mine from way back. Don't mess this up, man," Shiro texted, giving him the push he needed.

He glanced up at the glowing signboard of the ramen shop and sighed. It's finally Tuesday.

As he stepped through the door, the shop owner greeted him with a loud, "Good evening, customer!" The sound echoed across the small, dimly lit restaurant. The air was thick with the savory aroma of beef, cigarette smoke, and the faint tang of alcohol.

Scanning the room, he searched for his blind date. His eyes landed on a woman sitting a few tables away from a rowdy group of guys. She had long brown hair that framed her face, bright teal eyes, and a slim figure. Dressed in a blue tank top and wearing a silver watch, her posture alone revealed her curves and graceful figure even though she sat with her back partially turned.

As he approached, the woman’s eyes flicked up at the sound of his footsteps. A brief look of surprise crossed her face before she smiled warmly.

"Ah, are you the one I'm meeting? Or... maybe not?" she asked, tilting her head sideways. "Shiro told me your name but not what you looked like."