[CH.65] Tokyo Sightseeing (Another Perspective)
**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before. Sumire Matsuda: MC Touka Kimura: Sumire's close friend and classmate in Tokyo. Nao & Fumika: Sumire's close friends. Haruka Sasaki: Sumire's kouhai. |
Nao’s POV
When I got off at Harajuku Station with Su-chan, there were a lot of people, perhaps because it was a long weekend. Similar to us, people were being drawn into the narrow streets, and on the other hand, there were those walking towards the station, facing each other across the crosswalk.
As the pedestrian signal turned blue, Su-chan and I held hands and stepped forward. When we got off the train earlier, Su-chan had said, "There might be a huge crowd, so let's hold hands to make sure we don't get separated." At that moment, sparks flew between Fumika and me. It had been a while, and both of us wanted to hold hands with Su-chan. Since kindergarten, we understood that if we were to fight over Su-chan here, we would be scolded by her. So, we immediately played rock-paper-scissors, and this time, I won the privilege of holding hands with Su-chan.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Nao?"
"N-nothing! I just thought Su-chan's hand is still as soft and smooth as ever."
"I take care of them every day, but Nao, your hands are just as soft and feminine."
Saying that, Su-chan stroked my hand with her finger. I could tell she wasn't just being polite, she genuinely felt that way. It was both exasperating and reassuring, realizing that Su-chan hadn't changed since our childhood, evoking a complex mix of emotions.
Even while walking side by side, I could sense the attention of people passing by naturally turning toward Su-chan. Despite her disguise with a hat and non-prescription glasses to avoid standing out, it ironically made Su-chan's unique atmosphere even more conspicuous. Su-chan was already known as a cute girl in our hometown, but coming to Tokyo seemed to have made her even cuter. She was still shorter than girls our age, but that was part of Su-chan's charm. I had somehow grown taller and ended up towards the back of the class, so maybe I envied shorter girls like Su-chan.
"Hey, can I ask you something? You're all cute. Are you interested in idols or something?"
As we walked along a street lined with shops selling celebrity goods and fashionable clothing, an unfamiliar middle-aged man with a slightly creepy smile approached us. Despite the compliments about everyone being cute, it was evident that the man's eyes were fixed solely on Su-chan, and his flattery was insincere.
This was my first experience with something like this, so I instinctively tried to stop, but Su-chan firmly pulled me forward, making me step out despite my hesitating feet. Without even sparing a glance at the man, Su-chan, in a cold voice, said, "Not interested," and the rest of us safely passed by the man.
Glancing back, I saw that Fumika, with Haruka-chan, was keeping a close watch from behind, so I felt a bit relieved. Fumika sometimes did incredibly clueless things, so as childhood friends who had always been together, it worried me. For us who grew up in the countryside, being approached by an unknown man like that was a big deal, almost an event that required calling the police.
"Su-chan, do you know that man from just now?"
Just to make sure, when I asked, Su-chan seemed somewhat troubled, and after smiling awkwardly, she shook her head. After making sure the man was no longer visible, she moved to the corner of the street so as not to inconvenience others.
"It's probably a scout. Sometimes they approach you when you're with Sumire," Touka-chan said with an exasperated tone. Su-chan's expression turned slightly melancholic. It wasn't like Su-chan was inviting strange men, and it must be awkward to be told that.
"I'm not aiming to be an idol, and it's troublesome when they approach me. Sometimes they ask, 'Are you not interested in acting?' but I'm already with an agency," Su-chan explained.
"Those men should approach girls who want to be idols," I commented. Touka-chan retorted, "There's no way you can tell that upon a first meeting." She had a good sense of humor, and I was really glad she became Su-chan's new friend. It was envy-inducing that she attended the same school as Su-chan, but I couldn't help feeling a bit envious.
"...Su-chan, do you sing or anything like that?"
"If it comes up as part of a job, I'll consider it, but for now, I don't... I almost got into a complicated situation before," Su-chan replied.
In response to Fumika's timid question, Su-chan answered smoothly. Towards the end, she mumbled something, but I couldn't make out what she was saying. Sometimes Su-chan speaks in such a way that it's hard to hear.
Prompted by Su-chan, who seemed to be deflecting something, we started walking towards the crepe shop again. It seemed like we quickly reached the crepe shop we were aiming for because Su-chan stopped.
"Whoa, there's a line, Su-chan."
"I heard about this place from a senpai who hangs out in Harajuku. It seems to be popular."
Su-chan's senpai? Maybe those are the people she mentioned living in the dorm with before. They seem to have moved out of the dorms and become university students now, but it's nice that they still meet and talk.
Behind the older sisters who were older than us, we joined the line. We waited for about 30 minutes because it takes time to cook the crepes, but during that time, I felt like we got to know Touka-chan and Haruka-chan a bit better. Su-chan was the one who created opportunities for conversation and asked for opinions, as always showing her considerate nature. However, I can't help but worry a little that if she keeps worrying about others like this, she might get tired.
I ordered a chocolate and banana crepe, Su-chan chose strawberry and custard, and Fumika went for apple and whipped cream. Each of us ordered something different, so we took a bite of each other's crepes to taste. Su-chan's had a delightful combination of the tartness of strawberries and the sweetness of custard, Fumika's had apples cooked sweetly like in an apple pie, complemented by the subtle sweetness of whipped cream, creating just the right balance of sweetness. Of course, they both tasted mine as well and happily exclaimed that it was delicious.
"Stop fooling around and eat already, you two," Touka-chan said, looking at us feeding each other with a somewhat incredulous expression. I wondered if Touka-chan wanted to try one too, so I offered, "Want a bite?" and extended my crepe to her. After muttering something, Touka-chan took a bite of my crepe. Seeing that, Su-chan and Fumika also offered their crepes to Touka-chan.
"Wait a moment, Sumire and the others... at this rate, I'll look like a glutton."
Seeing Touka-chan smile a bit shyly, we couldn't help but burst into laughter. It's because initially, she gave off the impression of a strong-willed girl, but suddenly, she showed a side that seemed docile and shy. She's a type of person we haven't encountered before, so I hope we can continue to get along even after we've separated from Tokyo and returned to our hometown. I wish I could live in Tokyo too, but my mom said it's not allowed.
After finishing our crepes, we explored stylish clothing stores together and visited various shops selling fashionable goods. The level of fashion in Tokyo is completely different from the shops near my home. While Fumika and I were browsing through clothes with wide eyes, Su-chan suggested, "How about we each get a top and bottom as a memory of coming to Tokyo?" But receiving a gift when it's not even our birthdays felt strange, and I felt hesitant about Su-chan, who is the same age as us, buying us expensive clothes. Fumika seemed to share the same sentiment, vigorously shaking her head beside me.
Su-chan looked a bit disappointed, but I believed this decision was the right one. While Su-chan has always been kind to us like an older sister, I hope that, if possible, we can rely on each other and remain equal friends. So, when I asked, "Next time I come to Tokyo, I'll save up some pocket money, so please tell me about shops with cute clothes again," Su-chan smiled and nodded.
After that, since Touka-chan seemed to know more about Tokyo than Su-chan, she guided us to places like Tokyo Tower and Asakusa Temple. Su-chan mentioned that when she travels for work, she usually uses her manager's car and isn't that familiar with the details. Haruka-chan, who recently came here, was also unfamiliar with the city, just like us. It creates a bit of camaraderie, considering that Tokyo, compared to our hometown, is chaotic and overwhelming with its large population.
By the way, Haruka-chan's hometown seems to be more urban than where we live. So, when I invited Su-chan to come to our hometown next time she returns, Haruka-chan enthusiastically agreed to join. It's a simple countryside, but I want to show them around the park where we play and the school we attend.
We had lunch along the way and leisurely strolled through Ueno Park, a vast park. There's also a national art museum nearby, and we walked aimlessly, taking breaks whenever we got tired while having various conversations. It felt nostalgic, like the times when Su-chan and I used to play here after school back when she was still in our hometown. However, now that she attends a different school in a different place, it made me feel a bit lonely, realizing that we couldn't spend such relaxing and enjoyable times with Su-chan anymore.
"Is something wrong, Nao? Are you tired?"
Su-chan noticed my subtle change immediately, and I really like that about her. I wish we could spend more time together, but being a child who can't live alone without Mom and Dad, I feel sad that I can't do anything. I want to become an adult who can choose everything for myself quickly. I'm sure Fumika feels the same way.
Speaking of adults, when we took a break at a café outside Ueno Park, Su-chan casually paid for everyone's drinks and cakes, which made her look mature and cool. However, the café manager, worried about Su-chan, said, "Are you okay? Are those kids forcing you to treat them?" While we were desperately trying to contain our laughter, Su-chan frantically denied it. It was quite challenging for the four of us. Su-chan is the smallest among us, so maybe that's why it seemed that way. After leaving the café, Su-chan pouted a bit with inflated cheeks, but it's these moments that make me want to protect her from others.
While comforting Su-chan, Mama said Tokyo has many cold-hearted people, but seeing kind people like the café manager made my heart feel warm. When I get home, I'll tell Mom about it.
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