Spirit Diner: A Departure with the Taste of Memories, Episode 35

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Chapter 4: Ginger Pork of Memories

5. Fate

“Here you go.”
The plate served was piled high with cabbage and pork. It was ginger pork.
“‘Here you go,’ you say...”
Even though I had told him I had no money, why was this person being so kind?
I suspected there might be a catch, but I couldn't overcome my hunger.
What kind of torture is it to have delicious-looking meat placed in front of you and just watch it? I’m a growing boy. My stomach isn't satisfied with just pork miso soup.

“I-I’ll dig in!”
I picked up my chopsticks again and ate the ginger pork.
“Delicious! It’s delicious, it’s so delicious!”
Yahiro repeated that it was delicious like an idiot.
I thought I should have more compliments since he went to the trouble of making it, but when something is truly delicious from the heart, you don't need extra words.
I shed tears as I devoured the ginger pork. The owner, watching me, narrowed his eyes and smiled happily.

“I’m happy to see you enjoy it that much.”
“It’s truly, truly delicious!”
“Would you like a refill of rice?”
“Yes, please!”
As Yahiro held out his bowl, the owner smiled and served him more rice.
With the energy and appetite of a starving middle schooler, Yahiro shoveled the extra rice and ginger pork into his stomach.
He put the last piece of meat in his mouth, chewed it to savor the flavor, and swallowed.

“Thank you for the meal. It was the best feast.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. By the way, Yahiro-kun.”
“Yes?”
“Are you really going to go?”
Huh? Yahiro tilted his head.

What did that mean?

The owner slowly turned his gaze toward the window.
Even such a casual gesture was so elegant that I found myself staring at him. If I were a woman, I would surely have fallen in love at that moment.
“It will blizzard tonight. It’s expected to be a heavy snowfall unlike any in recent years.”
Told by the owner, Yahiro looked at the window.
Until a moment ago, it was just a light flurry, but perhaps because the wind had picked up, it was falling with such intensity that he couldn't see ahead.
Snow had already begun to pile up on the path in front of the shop.
Yahiro turned his gaze back to the owner.
“I usually avoid getting too involved in people’s fates, but perhaps your visiting me like this is some kind of fate.”
Yahiro blinked with a puzzled look on his face.

People’s fates?
What was he suddenly talking about?

“If possible, can’t you change the day you return to your parents’ home?”
“Uh... but I’m worried about my grandmother, so I have to go.”
“Even if I tell you that your grandmother will be fine?”
Yahiro tilted his head in confusion.

What would be fine?

Even though we had just met, I felt that I might be able to listen to what this person had to say. So, if he explained the reason properly, I might consider it.
However, the owner shook his head and said, “No.”
“It’s nothing. I said something strange. Please forget what I just said.”
The owner looked at Yahiro with somewhat sad eyes.

“Um... thank you for the meal. My name is Hirota Yahiro. The ginger pork was truly delicious. The pork miso soup, too, of course. Once things settle down with my grandmother, I’ll come back here, so I’ll definitely come back to pay you then.”
“It’s fine. I did it on my own accord.”
Yahiro shook his head vigorously.
“That won’t do! I will definitely come back.”
I felt reluctant to leave, but I couldn't stay here forever.
“Wait, please. Yahiro-kun, take this.”
The owner handed him two chocolate wrappers.
“Chocolate?”
“This red wrapper is for you, Yahiro-kun, and you should give the blue one to someone else.”
“Oh... I see.”
What did he mean by ‘someone else’?
I didn't quite understand, but I smiled vaguely and accepted the chocolates honestly.

I’ll eat them as a snack later.
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything sweet lately, so I was simply happy and grateful for the chocolate.

He tried to stop me from going home and said strange things, which made me a little scared, but I decided to think it was because he was worried about me.
“I’m going now. I’m truly, truly grateful. Thank you very much!”
After thanking him cheerfully, Yahiro opened the shop door.
He shivered at the cold air that flowed in.
The heat that had finally warmed his body was stolen away all at once.
“Yahiro-kun, come here. You must come here, to me.”
The owner muttered that, but because of the strong wind blowing, the voice did not reach Yahiro’s ears.
Yahiro looked back one more time, bowed to the owner, and left the shop.

Could this voice be...?
Yahiro rushed out of the break room and leaned forward to confirm the figure of the woman who had come to the shop.
There was no mistake.
The woman in the shop was—.

“Mom! Why are you here?”
However, at Yahiro’s voice, his mother didn't even look his way.

Doesn't she notice?
No, that shouldn't be.

Yahiro’s figure should definitely be in his mother’s field of vision.
“Mom!”
Calling out again, Yahiro walked to his mother’s side with unsteady steps. Still, his mother didn't look at him.
Yahiro stopped. As if his feet were sewn to the floor, he couldn't get any closer to his mother.

There’s no way she can’t see me.
Yet, why?

“Mom, it’s me.”
Even though he called out to his mother in an anxious voice, she didn't answer, nor did she even look at him.
Throb.
Once again, a sharp, piercing pain shot through his temples, and Yahiro clutched his head and crouched down on the spot.
What on earth is happening?
When he opened his eyes slightly, a different scene than before spread out before him.

What is this?

Resting his cheek on his hand against the bus window frame, Yahiro stared blankly at the passing scenery outside. That said, the sun had already set, and it was pitch black outside, so he couldn't see anything. On top of that, it was a blizzard.
Only the occasional light from a house flickered vaguely in the falling snow as it passed by.
The inside of the bus was quiet. Some were sleeping. Some were fiddling with their smartphones. Some were wearing earphones and listening to music; everyone was relaxing.
In the front seats, an elderly couple sat huddled together, which was heartwarming.
In the seat across the aisle from where Yahiro sat, a young girl of about four and her mother were sitting. The girl was lying down, using her mother’s lap as a pillow, and was asleep.

Every now and then, the mother would stroke her daughter’s hair.
The snow, blowing hard, tapped against the window. He felt like the snow was getting even worse. It was truly a whiteout.
Feeling anxious, he stretched his neck and looked forward, but he could see almost nothing beyond the windshield, and a white world spread out in the darkness.
A strange, nameless anxiety brushed through his chest. He had a bad feeling. But Yahiro shook his head.
Let’s stop thinking about ominous things. Let’s not worry about unnecessary things and just go to sleep.
A few more hours. When he wakes up from his sleep, he will arrive at his destination.

Thanks to the owner of the small restaurant he stopped by earlier, his stomach was full. Partly because of that, he was in a state where he could fall asleep whenever he closed his eyes.
He was a truly kind person. To feed a stranger like me just because I was hungry, even though I had no money. I didn't think there were people like that these days.
When I see people like that, I want to be kind to others too.
I wanted to be the kind of person who could help someone.
Come to think of it, when he reached into his pocket, the chocolate the owner gave him came out.

Feeling it would be a waste to eat it now, he put it back in his pocket, thinking he would eat it when he got a little hungry.
He swayed his body from side to side to get comfortable in the seat.
He got into a sleeping position, hugged his backpack with both arms, and bowed his head.
He fell asleep immediately.

— Continued in Episode 36 —

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