Father's Note Episode 12

November 1998

To Shuta,

Actually, because you started playing Little League, I started studying to become an umpire, and I passed the exam a month ago!

And last week, I umpired my first official Little League game!

I had so much fun!
The kids were all giving it their all, and I never imagined it would be this much fun, like I was playing in the game with them.

You were the one who gave me the spark, Shuta. Thank you so much!

I want to study even more now!
Just a moment ago, I was watching Koshien with you and studying how to keep score and the rules.

Plus, it looks like our local team might win it all this year!

And you learn so fast, Shuta!
The rules of baseball are still too difficult for me and I'm still a novice, but I'm having a blast studying them!

I never thought I'd be the one studying baseball.

And Shuta, it seems you have a real talent for baseball!
I'm truly happy to see you growing more and more.

I was never good at sports at all, after all.

I'll do my best to become more knowledgeable about baseball, too.

But sometimes, I also feel a sense of loneliness as you grow up.

Until recently,
you would run up to me saying,
“Papa!”
but now you practice baseball until late and come home by yourself.

There are many times I wish I could do more as a father.
I'm always working and can't spend enough time with the family.

But I'm going to work even harder to make you, Chiaki, and Mom even happier than we are now!

And I'm going to live in a bigger house than this one,
and build a house where we can practice baseball at home!

It's a promise!

Let's both do our best with baseball and our studies!

I'll also work to become a father you can be proud of.

Thank you for always cheering me up!

By the way, Shuta, as you read this note,
did you properly look at the contents of the previous page?

What kind of 'pride' do you have, Shuta?

Mom and I,
we are proud of you and Chiaki.

My old man pushed me to go for it, I discovered cooking in Tokyo,
met your mom, and you and Chiaki were born.
Then I was able to open a shop in my hometown,
so many customers came to visit,
it's been the best life.
I have nothing but gratitude for everything.

And because the two of you are here, I can enjoy my work every day,
and Motonoya continues to thrive.

I've even decided that if I ever open a second shop,
I'll name it 'Senshu'!
It's a name taken from you and Chiaki.
I'm thinking of making it a bit more polished than Motonoya.

I'm naming it that because I'm proud of you both.

It's a cool name, isn't it?

That is Dad's 'way of life'.

By the time you read this note, it should be finished!

Maybe you're a chef now!
No, wait, maybe you've become a professional baseball player!

I'm counting on you!

From Dad

From Motonoya in the evening

Dad,
I'm proud of you, too.

The torn page had stories about the first time Dad served as an umpire,
and plans to name the second shop after me and my sister Chiaki.

Dad must have torn this page out
because he felt ashamed of himself.
Dad went through things like that too,
but he was always positive regardless.

I have to follow his example.

And when I looked closely into the back of the opened drawer,
there was a notebook,
a wooden frog doll I used to play with when I was little,
and an old scorebook.

When I took out a notebook and looked at it,
it was written, "To Chiaki."
And there were letters written "To Miyoko" and "To Chiaki,"
and letters from Mom and Chiaki were also inside.

Dad,
you had properly written letters for both Mom and Chiaki.

When I opened the scorebook, it had a nostalgic scent.
The old scorebook was the one from back then when I was practicing how to keep score while watching Koshien with Dad.
As I flipped through it, on the last page

"Memories with Shuta"
was written.

Thank you, Dad.

I took the note, the notebook I found, and the two letters,
and left Dad's room.

It was raining again.

I feel like it always rains on important days.

The gentle sound of rain
was echoing through Dad's room.