Searching for Dad for Three Thousand Miles: Tsumugi in Umeda — A Three-Part Dialogue Story
On TV, a rerun of '3000 Leagues in Search of Mother'.
In front of the low table.
Tsumugi Shirai (7) was watching with sparkling eyes.
Crossing mountains.
Walking through grasslands.
Crossing countries.
The great adventure of young Marco.
The ending theme begins to play.
Tsumugi stood up.
—
Tsumugi
“I’m going to go find Dad after all!”
Mom in the kitchen.
She turns around while washing dishes.
—
Mom
“That’s impossible.”
“I don’t even know where he is.”
—
Tsumugi
“Marco went all the way to Argentina, didn’t he?”
“Crossing fields, walking through grasslands, and crossing countries!”
—
Mom (turns off the faucet and laughs in disbelief)
“...Sure, sure. Alright then, let’s go.”
Tsumugi
“Yay!!”
—
Umeda.
Tsumugi
“Our journey begins!”
—
Mom
“For now, let’s go eat at Sanbangai.”
—
Tsumugi
“Yay!”
—
A few hours later.
Food court.
Mom
“It’s not penne in Genoa, but it’s delicious, right?”
—
Tsumugi stuffing her cheeks with takoyaki.
“Yeah.”
—
Mom
“Hurry up and return your plate.”
—
Tsumugi
“Short... no, make it a grande size.”
Mom
“Hey, you.”
“Why are you ordering chai on your own!”
—
Tsumugi
“It’s good.”
—
Mom
“What about finding Dad?”
—
Tsumugi
“Just taking a break.”
—
Mom
“You can’t even clear the underground dungeon of Umeda.”
—
Evening.
A bench in the underground mall.
Tsumugi lets out a big yawn.
—
Mom
“You’re full, aren’t you?”
Tsumugi
“Yeah.”
—
Mom
“Are you satisfied?”
—
Tsumugi
“Yeah.”
—
A brief silence.
—
Tsumugi
“Dad.”
“Wasn’t there.”
—
Mom
“I see.”
—
Another brief silence.
—
Mom
“Well then, let’s head home.”
—
Tsumugi
“Yeah.”
—
They stand up.
—
Tsumugi
“But.”
—
Mom
“Hmm?”
—
Tsumugi
“The chai was good.”
—
Mom
“I know.”
—
Tsumugi
“And the takoyaki too.”
—
Mom
“I know.”
—
Tsumugi
“And the soft-serve ice cream too.”
—
Mom
“I know, I know.”
—
They start walking.
Tsumugi
“Will I find Dad next time?”
—
Mom
“Who knows.”
—
Tsumugi
“Then let’s come again.”
—
Mom
“To Sanbangai, right.”
—
Tsumugi
“Yeah.”
—
That day.
Tsumugi Shirai’s three thousand miles,
was mostly just Sanbangai.
<The End>
I participated in Keisan Harato’s project this time.
Thank you.
The story of the dad who disappeared
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