The Life of Ritchie Ryorijin

The Life of Ritchie Ryorijin By Farhan Syafiq

One day, on the land of rising sun, on a small city of Kagutsuchi, lived a boy named Ritchie Ryorijin. He was once a regular boy who loved to cook many kinds of food. Every day he read a book full of recipe. But one day, his family was killed in an accident, which later depressed him. Since that accident he lived alone on his house; he rarely went outside and socialized with other people except for school and work. He worked on a small café to pay his school fee, and to live for a day. Every morning, he went to school. In school, despite being a kind student Ritchie didn’t have many friends and his scores were also disappointing too. Ritchie’s condition caught his homeroom teacher’s attention, Ms. Litchi Faye-ling. One day, Ms. Litchi called Ritchie to her office. She told him to come to library after school for a private class. And so every day Ms. Litchi helped Ritchie to study, she even took him to a restaurant for a lunch.

            Not long after, Ritchie began to have a good life on school, his score started to get better and better, and he also started to befriend his classmate. One day, while walking on a street Ritchie stopped in front of a shop full of expensive kitchen utensils. Ritchie wanted those utensils, but he realized he didn’t have any money. In the end Ritchie endure his desire to buy those utensils. Ritchie began to look down again after that day, but this time he caught one of the student’s attentions. His name was Yuki Terumi, a notoriously bad student. Terumi never liked Ritchie because he always got a lot of attention from teachers and female students. Terumi felt that this moment is the right time to teach him a lesson. He approached Ritchie and asked him why he looked so down, and he found out that Ritchie really needed some money. Terumi then suggested Ritchie to come with him to sell some high priced illegal lottery. At first Ritchie felt hesitant, but he finally agreed Terumi’s offer because he wanted those utensils really bad. Tomorrow evening after a lesson with Ms. Litchi, he went to the market and met Terumi to start selling the lottery. For several days their action was fine, but one day a group of police officer suddenly appeared and chased them. Both of them tried their best to escape the officer. Terumi managed to escape, but not Ritchie. Then, he was dragged by one of the officer to a police car. Meanwhile on the other side of the road, a charismatic young man named Jubei saw the incident. Right before Ritchie put into a police car, Jubei stopped the officer.

“Excuse me, officer. May I take that kid?” asked Jubei.

“Wait, you know this kid?” the officer asked back.

“Yeah, he is my friend’s student. Let me take him from here, I’m very sure he didn’t mean to do a crime.” said Jubei.

“Hmmm, alright then take this kid and make sure you keep your eye on him, and you stay out of trouble.” replied the officer.

“Well, as you say officer.” said Jubei calmly.

            After that Jubei took Ritchie to his car, and drove him to Ms. Litchi’s house.

“So, I reckon your name is Ritchie, right?” asked Jubei.

“Yes, that’s me. How do you know my name? Who are you? Where do you take me to?” asked Ritchie back.

“Oh sorry, where are my manners? My name is Mitsuyoshi Jubei. But please do call me Jubei. I am your teacher friend, and we are on our way to her house.” replied Jubei.

            “To Ms. Litchi’s house? Oh please don’t, if she found out what I did back there, she will be disappointed in me.” said Ritchie panicked.

            “Well kid, sometimes you must tell the truth and face the consequences, no matter how hard it is. By the way why are you sellin’ those illegal things? Ain’t Litchi taught you well?” asked Jubei.

            “Of course she did, but I needed that money and I felt so bad if I asked money from her. I can’t stand being poor and helpless like this” replied Ritchie almost crying.

            “I see. Well kid, all I can say now that once we get there, we will gonna have a long talk.” said Jubei

            And so as their conversation goes, they arrived at Ms. Litchi’s house. Once they enter her house, Jubei told Ms. Litchi the whole story about what happened to Ritchie. Then, there was a disappointment appeared on that softhearted teacher’s face, while Ritchie can only sit with head down, feeling ashamed for what he had done. Both Jubei and Ms. Litchi continued to discuss about what they going to do with Ritchie. Ms. Litchi knew that Ritchie got a potential to be success in the future, and she knew from the story that Ritchie loved cooking. In the end, both of them agreed to take care of Ritchie and taught him how to become success in future life.

            “Ritchie, I know you’ve been facing such a hard life. But rest assured now, because we both will take care of you.” said Ms. Litchi softly.

            “That’s right kid, from now on if you need somethin’ just come and tell us. So there won’t be any stealin’, and sellin’ illegal things. Okay?” said Jubei firmly.

            “You really mean it?” asked Ritchie with twinkling eye.

            “Of course we mean it. Look, Ritchie we both see that you have a great potential to be successful in the future.” replied Jubei.

            “And also you love cooking many kinds of food, aren’t you Ritchie? Well, lucky for you Mr. Jubei here is a certified master chef.” said Ms. Litchi

            “Is….is that true Jubei?” asked Ritchie

            “Well, yeah that’s me kid. Now kid, you better be prepared for some teachings we are goin’ to conduct on you.” said Jubei with smile

            “Oh, thank you Ms Litchi and Jubei, thank you so much.” said Ritchie happily.

From that moment on, Ritchie started his new life under Ms Litchi’s and Jubei’s wing. Every day after school he came to library to study with Ms. Litchie, and on evening Ritchie got a private cooking class with Jubei. He no longer worked in a café, because all of his daily needs and his school fees were paid by Ms Litchi and Jubei. At one point Ritchie felt that both Ms. Litchi and Jubei were like a parent figure to him, because both of them never give up on him and always taught him great values in life.

Not long after that, Ritchie graduated from school with a flying score, he also became a certified junior chef after some training with Jubei. Unlike the other student who continued their study to college, Ritchie chose to open a small restaurant. At first his restaurant wasn’t that crowded, but Ritchie didn’t give up. He kept doing new innovation to his restaurant. Until one day, his small restaurant became a great restaurant which had many branches across Japan. He also became a famous chef in the world, known for his unique innovation on food and restaurant. Several times he was called overseas to attend international chef convention.

Several years had passed; Ritchie had already become a master chef. He also married a British woman named Charlotte Kirkland and had three children. One day, when he was cleaning his warehouse, he found an old notebook and his junior chef certificate. At that point he remembered Ms Litchi and Jubei, the two persons who helped him to be a successful man, and then he decided to visit them. The next day, on the afternoon, he arrived on his high school many things have changed since his graduation. When he saw his school many memories flowed through his head, some of them are memories with Ms Litchi and Jubei. He really missed them, and wanted to see them soon. Then, he decided to go to Ms. Litchi’s house. When he arrived, he saw Jubei’s car parked on the garage and asked to himself why Jubei’s car was in Ms. Litchi’s house. After that Ritchie knocked the door several times and the door was opened by a young boy. At first Ritchie was confused by the young boy, but in the end he asked the young boy if Ms. Litchi and Jubei were home. The young boy suddenly shouted out the word mom and dad, Ritchie then finally realized that Ms. Litchi and Jubei were married. Not long after that, Mrs. Litchi and Jubei came to the door with both surprised and happy face. Tears were coming down from their eyes, and then the three of them hugged each other. They let Ritchie in and sit down, after that they had a very long talk. Several hours had passed and it’s time for Ritchie to go home. But before he go, he said something to them in tears,

“Thank you for helping me to be a successful man, and thank you for being my parents. I will always remember you two, forever.”

The End