Chapter Text
Hideji shook off his umbrella as he walked through the door to his apartment. It was a chilly, rainy day, and his walk back from the subway had left him a bit damp with how the wind blew the rain sideways. He'd spent a long, grueling day at work, barely getting a chance to snack on a rice ball during his break. It didn't matter, though, since he'd been looking forward to something all day -- the deluxe instant ramen he'd purchased from the convenience store the day before. Now that he was home, his stomach automatically growled loudly. It had been hard to conceal his hunger as 5pm approached, and worse still on the subway, but now he was home and it would soon be quenched.
Hideji patted his stomach as if to calm it, setting down his bag and shucking off his soggy suit jacket and shoes. He loosened his tie and went to the kitchen right away, too hungry to change into clothes for home. The ramen sat on the counter, and he immediately put on the water to boil as he opened the package.
It was a spicy beef ramen, printed with the word 'Deluxe' on the front to show that it was twice the size of a regular ramen package. He'd considered passing it up and just getting the standard size, but it was almost the same price and could fill his belly twice as well, so he couldn't not buy it. He waited for the water to begin to simmer and put in the flavor packet, flavored oil, and the dried vegetables before waiting a bit longer to put in the noodles. Being a salaryman with little time on his hands, he was a bit of a connoisseur of instant ramen. Even from the smell, he could tell that this was good stuff.
As the noodles cooked, Hideji went to the fridge and took out the milk tea he'd saved for this occasion. It was Thursday, after all, which was one day before the weekend would hit and therefore deserved some special attention. On Fridays and weekends he could actually go out to eat, but that didn't mean he couldn't treat himself other nights. He poured the tea into a glass and served up the ramen, adding a hard boiled egg and bringing it over to his coffee table to sit down.
The first bite was a shock to Hideji's tongue, sparking with saltiness, spice, and sweetness. It was the perfect rich heaviness that came with bone broth and flavored oil, spreading warmth throughout his body. He had to wipe his glasses as they fogged up from the steam rising off the broth. It was a bit spicier than he'd expected, and he took a long swig of his tea. The tea complemented the noodles perfectly, drowning out the pain of the capsaicin with creamy sweetness.
Hideji ate quickly but neatly, careful not to drip any broth on his white shirt even as he slurped down big bites of the noodles. His mouth quickly numbed from the spice, but the warming sensation remained as he gulped down each mouthful. Before too long, his hunger had abated and he slowed down, taking each bite slower and savoring it. He could feel his stomach gradually filling, the warmth traveling through his veins and helping him to relax after a day of being tense and hunched over his computer at work.
About two thirds of the way through, Hideji began to feel a little full. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking a moment to assess. Most of the noodles were gone, but the broth and the rest of his tea remained. He pressed a hand to his tummy, feeling how it had just begun to press against his belt. Making an executive decision to not waste food, he unbuckled his belt with a huff and a soft hiccup before diving back in.
Although each bite was feeling more and more like a chore, the food was still absolutely delicious. Even when Hideji's stomach started to twinge slightly in complaint, he couldn't resist taking another bite. It became easier once the noodles were gone, and he tipped the bowl up to drink the broth in long chugs. Each swallow sent broth splashing into his stomach to fill it just a bit more. By the time he was getting to the bottom of the bowl, he felt a bit like a water balloon, although not in pain.
Hideji set down the bowl, feeling the pressure in his stomach gradually moved up his throat until he pressed his fist to his lips and burped deeply into it. "Buuuuorp." It wasn't massively loud, but felt warm and brought up a satisfying flavor. He sighed and leaned back, placing a hand on his belly. "Excuse me," he murmured to himself, before unbuttoning his slacks to give his tummy some more room.
Hideji basked in the sensation of being truly stuffed, sipping at the last of his tea as his free hand started to work lightly at the surface of his stomach to soothe it and help reduce pressure. He burped lightly into his mouth a few times, exhaling the gas and feeling the bloating reduce. He normally kept perfect manners at work, but at home it was hard to be polite at the cost of indigestion when nobody was around to hear him. He even patted his chest gently to coax up a final tea-scented burp before getting cozy on the couch and closing his eyes for a quick post-meal nap. Even if it was a bit much, he'd decided that the deluxe ramen was a great deal.