The amusement park had been a success, but the day wasn't over yet. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Nolan suggested they stop for dinner before heading home. The kids were tired but still full of energy, chattering excitedly as they piled into the car. Mark had his arm draped over the shoulders of his younger brothers, Naruto and Sasuke, who were still hyped from the rides.
"We're stopping at a restaurant on the way back," Nolan said, looking at the rearview mirror where Mark and the boys were sitting. "Everyone's hungry, right?"
"Definitely!" Naruto exclaimed, bouncing in his seat. "I want ramen! A lot of ramen!"
Nolan raised an eyebrow, glancing at him through the mirror. "Ramen, huh? How much ramen are we talking about?"
Naruto's face lit up as he pointed at the menu on the wall of the restaurant they were pulling into. "Fifty bowls of ramen! That's how much!"
Mark groaned from the backseat. "Fifty bowls? That's too much, Naruto."
Naruto just shrugged, his usual grin spreading across his face. "Nah, I can eat all of it! I've got a huge appetite!"
Mark shook his head in disbelief. "There's no way you can eat that much. I mean, I love ramen, but fifty bowls is just insane."
Nolan chuckled, pulling the car into a parking space. "If Naruto can't finish them, we'll just order more for him to take home. He's got an appetite, that's for sure."
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "See? Dad gets it!"
Once they entered the restaurant, the group found a booth in the corner. Naruto immediately leaned over the menu, scanning it with intense focus. He didn't even look up when the waitress came to take their orders.
"What can I get for you all today?" the waitress asked, her smile wide.
"I'll have the beef donburi," Nolan said, looking at the menu. "And a side of miso soup."
Debbie ordered the chicken teriyaki, and Mark chose the pork cutlet bowl. Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto were next, and the moment the waitress reached them, Naruto jumped up, pointing eagerly at the ramen section of the menu.
"I'll have fifty bowls of ramen, please!" he declared proudly.
The waitress blinked, unsure if she'd heard him correctly. "Fifty?" she asked, looking from Naruto to Nolan, then back at the menu. "Fifty bowls? Are you sure?"
"Yep!" Naruto said confidently, not even batting an eye. "Fifty bowls of ramen!"
Mark sighed, shaking his head. "Naruto, seriously, you're not gonna finish that. Just order a few bowls!"
Nolan raised his hand to interrupt. "It's fine. If he can't finish them, we'll just take the rest to go."
Naruto grinned, proud of his plan. "I'll eat all of them, no problem!"
The waitress, still slightly confused, nodded slowly. "Alright, fifty bowls of ramen. Anything else?"
"Just bring us what we ordered," Nolan said with a smile, watching as the waitress wrote it all down. "And bring us a few appetizers too."
As the waitress walked off to place their order, Naruto turned to the others, excitement radiating from him. "I'm gonna beat this challenge, no problem! You guys don't understand—I'm a ramen expert!"
Sasuke, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke up. "This should be interesting."
Itachi, ever calm, simply gave a small smile. "I'm sure you can handle it, Naruto."
The table settled into an easy conversation as they waited for their food. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, and for the first time in a long time, Nolan felt like they were just a regular family, enjoying a simple meal together.
Soon, the food arrived—plates filled with steaming hot dishes. The ramen, of course, was the main attraction. Naruto's fifty bowls of ramen were delivered in stages, with the waitress carefully balancing them on a large tray, looking slightly overwhelmed.
Mark stared in disbelief as she set down bowl after bowl of ramen in front of Naruto. "I still can't believe you're actually going to eat all of this."
Naruto, with a wide grin, dug in without hesitation. "I'll show you! I've got this."
Debbie watched the scene, shaking her head in amusement. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or concerned."
The family ate together, enjoying their food and each other's company. Itachi and Sasuke, though still somewhat reserved, were starting to adjust to the warmth of the Grayson family. Sasuke, in particular, seemed to be opening up more as he ate, exchanging quiet comments with Naruto. Itachi, as always, was observing, his calm demeanor grounding the chaos around him.
Naruto, on the other hand, was too focused on his ramen challenge to notice anything else. He was already halfway through his first stack of bowls, slurping loudly with every bite.
After a while, Mark couldn't help but ask, "So, how many bowls are you down, Naruto?"
Naruto looked up from his ramen, his cheeks stuffed with noodles. "Uh, I think I'm on... number fifteen?"
"You're barely halfway there," Mark teased, unable to hold back a smile.
"I can do it!" Naruto said confidently, shoveling another bowl of ramen into his mouth. "I've got this!"
The rest of the meal was filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional comment about Naruto's apparent bottomless stomach. But as the last bowl of ramen was brought to the table, the real test began.
Naruto, with a determined look on his face, stared down the final bowl. Mark raised an eyebrow. "Think you can finish it?"
Naruto paused, spoon halfway to his mouth. "Just wait... I'll finish it... right after this nap," he muttered, slumping slightly in his seat, his stomach clearly full.
Nolan couldn't help but laugh. "You're right, you'll finish it later."
After the meal, Naruto reluctantly agreed to take the remaining ramen home with him. They paid the bill and left the restaurant, heading back to the car. It had been a long day, but a good one. The boys were exhausted, but they all seemed happier than when they had arrived.
As they drove back home, Nolan glanced over at Mark, who was staring out the window, deep in thought. "You okay, Mark?"
Mark nodded slowly. "Yeah. Just... thinking about everything. About what's coming. I don't know if I can handle it all."
Nolan gave him a reassuring look. "You don't have to handle it alone, Mark. We'll get through it together."
Debbie smiled, her hand resting gently on Nolan's arm. "We'll always have each other. No matter what."
And for the first time in a long time, Nolan felt confident in their new life. The future wasn't certain, but with his family beside him, it didn't seem as daunting as it once had.