Episode 18: The Station God of Meguro Station

Meguro Station is a convenient hub where the Yamanote, Namboku, Mita, and Tokyu Meguro lines intersect. The area in front of the station is full of slopes, and it is not uncommon for people to end up thinking, "Wait, where am I?" if they take the wrong exit.
The station god who protects Meguro is a young man who is surprisingly fashion-conscious. He wears glasses, a jacket, and has a small flower tucked into his breast pocket. According to him, "Meguro is a stylish neighborhood, after all." However, as soon as he opens his mouth, his tendency to make sharp retorts comes out.
"Yes, yes! You two! You're trying to go out the wrong exits—one East, one West! If you're going to meet in front of the station, at least agree on which exit to use before you come!"
The god shouted from atop a beam and snapped his fingers. Coincidentally, their phones buzzed, displaying a message: "LINE from girlfriend: I'm at the West Exit ♡." The man hurriedly turned back and they were able to meet up safely.
"Alright, averted a romantic comedy disaster! Meguro doesn't treat lovers coldly!"
In the morning, a salaryman on the Yamanote Line platform muttered, "Can I get to the Hibiya Line from here?" The god sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.
"No, that's from Nakameguro! The names sound similar, but they're different places!"
The god instantly flicked the hem of his suit. A woman standing next to the salaryman naturally said, "Actually, the Hibiya Line is at Nakameguro." The salaryman blushed and nodded, saying, "O-oh, that's right."
"Phew, the problem of station names being too similar is a real headache for a god."
By noon, tourists walking down the slope in front of the station were out of breath.
"Ugh... aren't there... too many slopes in Meguro...?"
The god smiled wryly, took a folding fan from his pocket, and fanned them. Just then, a bus heading down the slope stopped, and the tourists hopped on as the driver called out, "Get on!" They sank into their seats and cheered, "Saved!"
"Look at that, Meguro is a city that's kind to adults."
In the afternoon, near the ticket gates, a foreign tourist looking for the "Meguro Parasitological Museum" was holding up a guidebook. The god was speechless for a moment.
"...That place is surprisingly popular, isn't it? Of all things, you chose that?"
With no other choice, he twirled his staff, and a college couple nearby laughed and guided the tourist, saying, "Oh, the Parasitological Museum is this way. You'll be surprised when you go there." The tourist followed them with great joy, while the god held his head in his hands from the ceiling beam.
"I mean, a more normal tourist spot would have been fine too..."
In the evening, the Yamanote Line departure melody played again. Commuters hurried by, and among them was a housewife with a leek sticking out of her bag. The god almost burst out laughing, but gave a flick of his finger. A student nearby immediately picked up the leek that had fallen and handed it to her. The housewife smiled brightly, and the student gave a shy smile back.
"This is it. These kinds of small interactions are what warm up a station."
At night, while watching people head toward the cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River, the god pushed up his glasses and grinned.
"Spring is for cherry blossom viewing, summer for beer gardens, autumn for the Sanma Festival, and winter for illuminations. In the end, Meguro is full of events all year round. ...I wonder if I'll ever get a saury fish for myself."
The station god muttered this while dangling his legs from the beam. His form, invisible to humans, somehow blended into the bustle of the city.