[Snack Naomi] <Night 10>: Gathering the Wind, Heading Downtown

Along a canal in Yokohama, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Tonight, too, someone is opening the heavy sliding door.
This is a story of such a night.

A night after the rain.

Inside the shop, time was flowing a little slower than usual.

In the corner of the counter, Kiyoshi, who is usually quiet, is smiling softly with a glass in his hand, which is rare.

Tonight, Kiyoshi was wrapped in a calm, serene atmosphere, as if he had let go of something.

"...Mama, the wind feels nice tonight, somehow."

Kiyoshi muttered, and picked up the remote control.

The song chosen was Happy End's "Kaze wo Atsumete" (Gathering the Wind).

🎵 [Tonight's First Song] "Kaze wo Atsumete" / Happy End

As the intro begins to play, the temperature of the air in the shop changes in an instant.

Ikuzo put down his guitar.

Tettsan also put down his mug, which is rare, and turned toward Kiyoshi, who was holding the microphone.

Kiyoshi begins to sing.

"Gathering the wind, gathering the wind, gathering the wind, I want to soar through the blue sky."

His voice, as if the usual silence was a lie, was surprisingly transparent and filled with a melancholic tenderness.

Naomi stopped polishing the glass and remained motionless for a while.

"...What a nice voice."

When Naomi whispered, Ikuzo, who was listening next to her, nodded slightly, saying "Yeah."


Tettsan, too, who would usually heckle with "What kind of song is that!", closed his eyes quietly tonight and was tapping along to the rhythm.

After finishing the song, Kiyoshi smiled as if he were a little embarrassed.

...Heh, I felt like I could sing really well today.

Kiyoshi, you look the coolest today.

Naomi smiles and pours an extra glass of his usual drink for Kiyoshi.

A small round of applause spreads through the shop.

As Kiyoshi finishes singing, Ikuzo shifts his guitar onto his back to take his place.

Kiyoshi, that was a nice breeze. ...Well then, I think I'll sing a song about riding this wind and heading out into the city!

The song Ikuzo chose was Sugar Babe's "DOWN TOWN." The moment the intro started, the atmosphere in the shop changed completely. This time, it wasn't silence, but a lighthearted beat that took over the room.

🎵 [Tonight's Second Song] "DOWN TOWN" / SUGAR BABE

With the upbeat rhythm of Ikuzo's acoustic performance of "DOWN TOWN," the shop felt just like a small live music venue.

Ikuzo's youthful voice rang out through the shop, and Tettsan shouted,

Hey, hey! Downtown is the best!

as he raised his beer mug high.

At the end of the counter, Aki, the new part-timer, was moving busily but still happily swaying to the rhythm.

Yumi called out to Aki, "Great moves!" and Aki smiled back, looking a little embarrassed.

Naomi couldn't help but sway her body to the rhythm as well.

Kiyoshi also shed his earlier melancholy and laughed happily, saying, "What's this, Ikuzo? That's a great song choice!"

It was an exhilarating feeling that made you want to run out into the night streets of Yokohama right away.

Mama, this is the best! I feel like I could drink until morning tonight!

At Tettsan's roar, Naomi...

"You guys, take it easy now."

Even as she said that, the corners of her mouth remained relaxed.

(...This place is filled with such a good vibe.)

Naomi stood behind the counter, watching the regulars laughing together and Aki-san working hard to carry the glasses.

She just wanted to watch this fun music and the smiles of her warm friends for a little while longer.

In the gaps between the music filling the shop, Naomi whispered in a voice no one could hear.

"...Everyone, thank you."

The downtown wind gently swept through this small snack bar in the back alleys of Yokohama.

<To be continued in Night 10>

*This story is a work of fiction. All characters, shops, and organizations appearing in it are fictitious. They have no relation to any real-life entities.