Dreams, Eels, and Omurice - Episode 15

<Previous Episode Read from the beginning Next Episode>

Ko-chan looked at me with wide eyes.
I feel like I just blurted out something strange, but I don't have time to worry about that. We've already wasted a lot of time here. Even if we chase after her, we might not be able to catch up.

"Ko-chan, if you don't go, you'll regret it. Are you okay with something like four years ago happening again?"
"That's..."
"She wasn't dressed for shopping! She was pulling a carry-on bag, so I don't think she's in a car."
As I said this, cutting him off, Ko-chan looked up.
"Maybe... she headed toward Enzan Station."
"That might be it. Let's get ahead of her! Which way is Enzan Station?"
"That way."
However, the direction Ko-chan pointed was the opposite of where Eriko-san had gone.
"Eriko-san didn't go that way, she walked this way..."
Ko-chan looked in the direction I pointed, and as if something had just occurred to him,
"Ah!"
he shouted, gripped the steering wheel tightly, and started the car.

We circled around and headed back the way we came. Then, we stopped the car in a large parking lot lined with several shops. It wasn't even three hundred meters away from the supermarket we were just at. The shop in front of us had a character wearing a chef's hat displayed on it.
"What is this place?"
"A popular bakery around here. It's really delicious. I always stopped by whenever I came this way. Maybe this is where she is."

I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out of the car. Ko-chan also got out and locked the car. The moment we started running toward the shop, a thrill that made my hair stand on end ran through my entire body.

"Eriko!"
Ko-chan's voice flew from behind me.
Eriko-san, who had just come out of the shop, was suddenly called by name and let her gaze wander, looking for the owner of the voice. She gasped when she noticed the men running toward her.
"Ko-chan..."
"Eriko..."
When I heard the two of them calling each other's names, I felt so relieved that my knees almost gave out.

"Why?"
"Oh, no, well, I just happened to see you... I'm sorry for calling out to you so suddenly... I must have surprised you."
"Well, I was surprised. I never expected to meet you in a place like this ."
"I'm sorry."
"No... you don't have to apologize..."

After that, the two of them looked down and fell silent. At this sudden reunion, both Ko-chan and Eriko-san were acting shy, like adolescent boys and girls. I understand how they feel, but at this rate, the conversation won't progress.
I had no choice but to step in between them.

"...Excuse me."
Eriko-san, who had been looking down, turned her face toward me.
"Nice to meet you. I'm this guy's nephew."
I said, pointing at Ko-chan.
Then, Eriko-san made a surprised expression. A faint blush appeared on her lightly made-up cheeks. I felt like I somewhat understood why Ko-chan had never been able to forget Eriko-san.

"Are you, by any chance, from your brother-in-law's side?"
"Yes, the second son. My name is Shunta."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Eriko."
I looked up at the sky with a face that looked genuinely dazzled.
"Man, it's really hot today, isn't it? Where are you headed from here?"
"I'm on my way home."
"By train, perhaps?"
"Yes. I was planning to walk to Enzan Station from here, but it really is hot. I'm glad I bought water at the supermarket."
Chance!
"Hey, Ko-chan. How long does it take to walk to the station from here?"
"Huh? Oh, well, I guess it takes about fifteen minutes."
"What! That long?"
I raised my voice in surprise.

"It's tough to walk for fifteen minutes in this scorching heat. If you'd like, we came by car, so why don't you ride with us back to Tokyo?"
When I said that, Ko-chan hurriedly joined in.
"Right! That's right. Yeah. If you'd like, I'll take you."
"But..."
"No, if you walk in this, you'll get heatstroke. And aren't you worried about getting a sunburn? UV rays are the enemy of your skin."
When I joked like a cosmetics salesperson, Eriko-san giggled.
I pressed the advantage.

"Please, do it. Please ride with us. I was just getting sick of being stuck with this middle-aged guy, it's so stifling."
I said, shaking my head exaggeratedly. In times like these, I can take the lead in being the clown.
Ko-chan smiled bitterly and muttered,
"You little rascal..."
Seeing our interaction, Eriko-san burst out laughing.

"Well then, I think I'll take you up on your offer. But are you really sure?"
"Yes, please, go ahead!"
As soon as I heard that answer, I went back to the car and got into the back seat.
The back seat on the passenger side was filled with luggage, so Eriko-san would have no choice but to sit in the passenger seat.
The two of them settled into the driver's and passenger's seats just as they had when they were a married couple.
"O-okay, let's go."
I could feel Ko-chan's joy and nervousness at having Eriko-san sitting next to him for the first time in a while. I chuckled to myself while watching the two of them lined up in front of me from the back.

"W-well, what a coincidence. Right, Shunta?"
"That's right."
"Is this your first time in Katsunuma, Shunta?"
"Yes."
"I see. He said he wanted to go, so we stayed here last night. Right, Shunta?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, that hotel over there, right? Did you go to the hot spring, Shunta?"
"Yes."
"It was a good bath as always. Right, Shunta?"
"Yeah."

They should just talk to each other, but Ko-chan and Eriko-san keep trying to carry on the conversation through me. The atmosphere isn't bad, but it's awkward.
I casually said,
"Ah, I'm hungry."
When there's a lull in the conversation, eating is the best thing to do.
"Then, let's stop at Dangozaka."
Ko-chan picked up on my comment like a lifeline and drove the car to the Dangozaka Service Area.

Even though it was hot, for some reason, all three of us chose ramen.
At the food court, Ko-chan and I sat next to each other, facing Eriko-san. I had salt ramen. The two of them had miso.
"You guys chose the same thing, you must be on the same wavelength."
I said casually while looking at the two bowls of miso ramen, and they both said,
"Oh, no..."
and acted shy like a newly dating couple.
They're adults, why are they acting so shy... It's embarrassing just watching them.

In times like this, if someone isn't talking properly, it feels stifling. While eating my ramen, I spoke to Eriko-san.
"Eriko-san, why were you in Katsunuma today?"
"To visit my grandfather's grave. Yesterday, I suddenly thought of it and contacted my uncle and aunt, and they said the morning would be fine, so I took the first train. I really wanted to come today, so I was a bit selfish..."
"I see."
I nodded deeply as if I understood. It was a great decision to be selfish.

"And then, my aunt by marriage said she was going shopping before her afternoon errands, so she gave me a ride to that supermarket. She actually said she would take me to the station, but when we passed by that bakery, I really wanted to stop by, so I had her drop me off there."
If the bread is that good, I should have bought some for us too.
"Since it had been a while, I wanted this and that, and I ended up buying a ridiculous amount. Oh, since you're here, Shunta-kun, take some home with you."
Yes!
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. It's very delicious bread. I'm sure a young person like you will like it too."
That bread is now in the cooler box with Ko-chan's wine.
"Lunch tomorrow is decided to be bread."
When I said that to Ko-chan, he said,
"Y-yeah, that's right."
and was slurping his ramen while wiping his sweat. I wonder if he's still nervous.

Since Ko-chan wouldn't talk much, I told Eriko-san that I was staying at Ko-chan's house only for the summer vacation, and that he had made me houtou. Eriko-san opened her eyes in slight surprise and,
"Ko-chan made houtou?"
she said, smiling happily.
"It was delicious. Really."
"Really! Then, he made it well."
When Eriko-san smiled like a flower, Ko-chan, perhaps shy, was just scooping up the remaining miso ramen soup with his ladle and drinking it.

Episode 16 continues

<Previous Episode To this story's magazine Next Episode>