Tsurai!

Posted on Sun Jun 28th, 2026 @ 5:21am by Captain Akeno Misaki & Commander Mashiro Munetani "Shiro" & Lieutenant Koko Nosa

1,890 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Hunted
Location: Starbase 26

The restaurant in which Akeno had suggested looked as if it were plucked straight out of some Japanese back-alley and placed smack-dab in the middle of the Promenade. Of course, that may have been over-selling it somewhat, but the atmosphere was unmistakably authentic; taking up a relatively small footprint to promote a more intimate dining experience, the establishment was characterized by warm, muted colors, cypress wood counters and faux beams, and minimal decorations that emphasized the food rather than the restaurant itself. Menu items were listed on more traditional wooden blocks, written in Kanji and displayed prominently on the wall at the front of the establishment, and the wait staff could be observed handing out Oshibori as a courtesy to the guests.

"It's almost like a piece of home," Mashiro remarked as she studied the menu blocks. "You don't see something like this everyday, especially so far afield..."

"I told you it had a good reputation." Akeno smiled as she walked towards it. "Come on, lets go eat! Its been ages since I had a good bowl of ramen!"

"What are you, nine?" Mashiro sighed as she moved to take a seat at the counter alongside Akeno.

Akeno waggled a finger at Mashiro. "Now now Shiro-chan. There's nothing wrong with a good bowl of Ramen. Especially if its prepared right. A nice creamy broth, tender chicken, a little fresh seaweed on the side. Oh and the egg placed on top. Not to mention the ginger as well. Yeah, thats what really makes my tummy happy!"

"Actually, that doesn't sound half-bad," Mashiro replied as she took the complimentary Oshibori and began to wipe off her hands. "Or are you going to be gulling me into having the wasabi?"

A smirk spread across the young Captains face. "Why of course. Wasabi is a huge part of being Japanese. You should know this Shiro-chan!"

Mashiro shot Akeno a dirty look. "Yes, but you don't serve it with ramen!"

"Only if you have Wasabi with ginger." Someone already seated piped up. "Otherwise, it's not worth the trouble."

"See? that lady over there agrees," Mashiro replied as she set the Oshibori down and picked up a menu.

The lady eating proceeded to scoop a small amount of Wasabi off a side dish and onto her chopsticks before using the chopsticks to take another bite of Ramen.

"Partner, I wouldn't knock Wasabi with Ramen until you try it." The lady said before scooping a piece of ginger into her mouth with her chopsticks.

Mashiro looked over at Akeno and shook her head. "And just when I was trying to prove a point..."

"Ha!" Akeno said as she pointed at Mashiro with a huge grin on her face. "Get told Commander I know everything about Japanese food!" she laughed.

Mashiro rolled her eyes. "Anyways... am I having the Wasabi with my ramen bowl, or not? Because unlike some people, I'm at least halfway sane and prefer not to be adding unnecessary heat to my already-hot food."

"Restaurant's smaller than it looks, Pal." The lady eating interjected. "You're going to have to lower your voice if you don't want me to hear you."

"No, that wasn't-!"

Mashiro sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "My apologies, Ma'am; my Commanding Officer can be a bit of a character sometimes, so that comment wasn't aimed at you so much as it was at her..."

"Whats the point of being a Captain if I can't have a little fun." Akeno smirked. "Plus, you should know by now Shiro-chan that the Wayfarer is a small ship. We all know each other, there's nothing that doesn't get heard or seen on a ship that size." She grinned. She placed down the menu. "I'll take one of the house special ramens, with some of that fresh Wasabi on the side!"

"Coming right up!" The Japanese gentleman behind the counter called back in return. He turned back towards the kitchen area and continued cooking.

Mashiro sighed and placed her menu down. "Make that two, please? And... could I get some ginger to go along with mine?"

"You got it!" the Japanese gentleman called back. "We'll have your food ready in just a couple of minutes!"

"Dōmo arigatō," Mashiro expressed before turning her attention back over to Akeno and the newcomer. "Anyways... where were we?"

"Wayfarer..." The name seemed to to be on the newcomer's mind since Akeno had mentioned it. "I'm sorry, did you guys say you were from the Wayfarer?"

Mashiro's brow peaked with curiosity. "Uh... we did?"

"Well, funny you say that..." The newcomer turned to face Akeno and Mashiro. "Because she's where I'm supposed to report in for my new assignment. Was dropped off here and told to meet the Wayfarer here... Well, not here here, but at the Starbase here."

Akeno was completely distracted as the bowl of ramen she ordered was placed in front of her. She placed her hands together and said quietly. "Thanks for the food." before snapping open her chopsticks.

"Uh, hello? Captain?" Mashiro tapped on Akeno's shoulder. "I think this lady here was talking to you?"

"Huh..." Akeno said as she already had some of the noodles in her mouth. She slirped them up quickly. "Sorry, what were you saying? I was totally distracted by the food."

Mashiro shook her head and sighed. "Like I said, she's a bit of a character," she replied, reaching around and offering the newcomer her outstretched hand. "Commander Mashiro Munetani, Executive Officer of the USS Wayfarer; and this right here is my- well, our Commanding Officer, Captain Akeno Misaki. And you would be...?"

"Lieutenant Koko Nosa." The newcomer, Koko, extended her hand to shake Mashiro's. "As of right now, Chief Counselor of of the USS Wayfarer."

"Oh, you're our new replacement counsellor," Akeno said with a smile. "How did you find yourself on the Wayfarer? Most of the counsellors in Starfleet are very busy these days, regarding recent galactic events."

"Well, that's the thing..." Koko ran a hand through her hair on the back of her head. "The people that dropped me off here... Well, let's just say they were glad to see me shrinking in their rearview. Something about being too dramatic, yada yada..."

"Too dramatic?" Akeno pondered as she popped more noodles into her mouth. She splurped them up again. "Have you met Shiro-chan?" She joked.

Mashiro's cheeks flared up. "I am not dramatic!" she protested indignantly.

"Oh you totally are!" Akeno said as she scooped up a bit of the wasabi on the end of her chopsticks and then pushed it into Mashiro's mouth without any warning.

Mashiro immediately sprung up and began coughing quite loudly as the rush of allyl isothiocyanate quickly overpowered her senses. tears began to stream down her face and she fanned the area in front of her face in a futile attempt to dispel the heat.

"Don't do that!" she scowled once she finally returned to her senses. "Jesus Christ, gimme some warning before you jam that in my mouth, yeah?"

Akeno couldn't help but give her the biggest smirk she had ever pulled. "Is that a sentance you say often Shiro-Chan?" she teased trying to muffle a laugh.

"What do you take me for, a tart?" Mashiro grumbled as she reached up and wiped the saliva off her muff. "Ah..."

"Uh, sorry to bring this up, but I'm actually Jewish." Koko admitted sheepishly. "My father and brother are both Rabbis, and we don't believe that first century preacher was the Messiah."

Akeno cocked her head to one side. "Jewish huh. I've never been one for religion. I suppose if I had to choose one, it would be Shinotism." she said with a smile as she popped a bit of the wasabi into her own mouth. "Oh wow, this is quite spicy..." she said.

"Well, it's kinda hard not to be even slightly religious when you grow up the daughter of a Rabbi." Koko admitted.

Akeno took another long slurp of her ramen. "So, if you're coming aboard the Wayfarer as our new chief counsellor. I gather you've already done some research into the crew right? Go on, what do you know about us already?"

"I can tell by the smell that one of you is into cats..." Koko remarked. "Or you have a Caitian aboard, one of the two..."

"Do you like cats Lieutenant?" Akeno asked curiously.

"My brother took in stray cats in Jerusalem, so I have nothing against cats..." Koko remarked. "Unlike someone here who's been diagnosed with Acute Ailuraphobia..."

For someone who had just been choking down a mouthful of wasabi no more than a minute ago, Mashiro's face went suspiciously pale.

"I like the idea of taking in stray cats..." Akeno replied as she smirked over at Mashiro. "A ship full of cats, sounds like a lot of furry cuddly fun!"

"Don't give me that look," Mashiro grumbled.

"My brother says cats are as much God's children as humans are, and we should nurture them as such." Koko said. "Sorry, there's the Rabbi's daughter coming out again..."

"I didn't know that cats were such a big part of the Jewish religion. But, its one thing I can totally get behind." Akeno said. She took another slurp of her noodles. "This ramen is so good!" she exclaimed with a huge smile.

"Speaking of..." Mashiro replied as the Japanese Gentleman from earlier returned with her own bowl of Ramen.

"Here you are, Ma'am, sorry for the wait," he explained as he placed the bowl down in front of where Mashiro was seated. "Tokuse ramen bowl, with a side of wasabi and ginger, as per your request."

"Arigatō gōzaimasu," Mashiro expressed. "Oh, and, uh... I know this may be a late, but while I'm thinking about it, Ocha Kudasai?"

"Mattaku mondai arimasen," the Japanese Gentleman assured her. "Any specific tea you're in the mood for?"

"Hmm... well, now that you mention it, some Jasmine tea would probably pair well with this..." Mashiro pondered, before turning her attention over to Akeno. "How about you, Captain?"

"Works for me," Akeno smiled. She looked over at the new counsellor. "How about you? Any tea preference?"

"More Chai, if I could, please." Koko responded.

"Two Jasmines and one Chai, coming right up," The Gentleman replied as he disappeared back into the kitchen.

"Right, then," Mashiro continued as she turned her attention back to her food. Placing her hands together in a similar fashion to Akeno's, she whispered a quiet "Itadakimasu" before snapping open her chopsticks and taking a bite.

"Oh, wow, you weren't kidding, Captain, this is pretty good..."

"I told you so!" Akeno smiled as she took another slurp of her ramen.

"Don't let it go your head, of course," Mashiro warned. "Just because I'm on the same page with you doesn't automatically guarantee that I'm going to start going along with your shenanigans..."

"Yeah. You keep telling yourself that..." Akeno smirked.

Posting by:

Captain Akeno Misaki
Commanding Officer

Commander Mashiro Munetani "Shiro"
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Koko Nosa
Chief Counsellor

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