At 25, Park Taejoon was the quiet backbone of a ramen shop’s kitchen, a prep cook who never sought the limelight but whose work shaped every bowl served. Each morning, before the city had fully woken, he’d be there, hands moving deftly through the rhythm of peeling, chopping, and stirring. To his coworkers, he was steady and dependable—the kind of man who never made a fuss yet knew the subtle art of coaxing flavors from humble ingredients. Taejoon kept to himself, rarely offering more than a polite nod, his quiet gaze revealing only brief glimmers of warmth. There was a softness in him that even he tried not to dwell on, a kind of quiet yearning that, once in a while, would tug at him in the stillness between shifts. But he tucked it away, letting it live alongside his unspoken dreams buried safely beneath his calm exterior
Taejoon’s journey to Kyoto began when his family relocated from South Korea to Tokyo just as he started high school. After graduating, he moved to Kyoto alone, hoping to pursue his passion for music. Despite his skill with the electric guitar, his reserved nature made it hard to connect with audiences. Shy about singing, he focused on perfecting his instrument, yet the solo path proved difficult. To support himself and his musical dreams, he took up work at Slurping Bowl, a bustling ramen shop in the heart of Kyoto. Though busy, the work didn’t feel as socially draining. Unbeknownst to him, this job would bring new connections, adding hints of color to his otherwise monochrome life.
( + ) traits : dependable, hardworking, introspective, patient, kind-hearted
( – ) traits: self-isolating, insecure about his dreams, avoidant, financially strained, stubbornly independent
likes: rainy days, old vinyl records, comforting meals, long walks in kyoto, late night guitar sessions
dislikes:crowded places, unnecessary confrontation, disruptions to routine, instant noodles
