"Wow, this is Chikurin!!"
As we entered the Chikurin bamboo forest in Kyoto's Arashiyama, the sound of bamboo rustling in the wind brought smiles to our faces, almost involuntarily.
Yuki and I were now at Chikurin, a bamboo forest in Kyoto's Arashiyama. Yuki, just like , was seeing this place for the first ti, and she gazed in wonder at the bamboo-lined path that surrounded us.
"Kyoto is definitely more amazing than Tokyo. It would be great if Tokyo had places like this."
With the subtle scent of bamboo in the air, Yuki closed her eyes and shared her thoughts. I walked beside her, enjoying our weekend date.
"Do you co here often, Junhyuk?"
"It's a good place to clear your mind. It has nice paths, and the scent of bamboo is refreshing."
"I see. It's such a nice path; it makes you sound like a grandpa."
"Ahem..."
While I might be a respectable middle-aged man on the inside, I laughed off Yuki's teasing and continued walking.
"So, are you going to the United States on Monday?"
"Yes. I'll be staying there for about a month."
"Wow, I've never been abroad before, so just hearing about it from you makes so excited, Junhyuk."
Why is she excited when she's not the one going? After a mont, Yuki asked with a cautious expression.
"Junhyuk, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Well, it's sothing I heard from a friend. Do you really have to take off your shoes when boarding a plane?"
Oh, this old joke still exists in this day and age. Yuki's serious expression made burst out laughing. In response, Yuki blushed and stamred.
"I-it's just a joke! Of course, you wear shoes when boarding!!"
At that mont, I stopped laughing and replied with a serious expression.
"What are you talking about, Yuki? Of course, you have to take off your shoes."
"Ah...! Right? I, I knew that all along! Hmph!"
With her face turning away, Yuki marched ahead on her own.
She's so cute. She just turned twenty this year. Considering my actual age, I must be receiving my punishnt. It's no wonder Yuki sotis refers to as a grandpa.
Oh, well. As I contemplated, Yuki turned her head and called out to as I walked slowly behind her.
"What are you doing? Hurry up!"
"Haha, I'm coming."
The bamboo forest, the winding path, and a charming girl – every word strikes a chord deep within.
...
After leaving Chikurin with Yuki, we returned to the car and headed to a restaurant as our stomachs started to growl. In the 1980s, Japan had the advantage of smooth roads with few cars, so you could easily drive anywhere. As I accelerated down the long road, my car cut through the chilly winter wind like an arrow.
"In 300 ters, turn left. Stay in the left lane."
It was a navigation voice that you'd only expect to hear about 30 years later, but in this case, it was Yuki's voice guiding to a Kyoto restaurant, of all things.
"Hehe..."
"What's been so funny since earlier? Co on, share it with , let's laugh together!"
"Oh, it's nothing."
"You're laughing to yourself while I'm left out..."
How do I explain that the behavior you're displaying now will one day co from a navigation device? I couldn't help but chuckle as I looked at the slightly pouting Yuki.
Despite her current deanor, Yuki isn't usually like this. If I don't say anything for a mont...
"But still, it's convenient for to guide you, right? It's not annoying to have it pop into your ear, is it?"
That's how. In reality, there was no ti for boredom.
Back in the days without navigation, anyone would spread out a map and ask the person in the passenger seat for directions when they entered unfamiliar territory. It was an experience that had its own unique charm.
A while later, with Yuki's guidance, we arrived at a restaurant. Even though it was a famous place, honestly, I wouldn't have co here by myself all the way from Kyoto to Kobe.
Kobe, a place you had to pass through Kyoto and Osaka to get to, was famous for its Kobe beef, which was similar to Korean Hanwoo beef.
"Wow, the restaurant is huge!"
In front of the restaurant, with a giant cow painted on the wall, Yuki was having a blast, like a child at an amusent park. She began taking pictures with her film cara, which was sothing that would have been an everyday sight in the 2000s, but people inside the restaurant were looking at her with puzzled expressions as she snapped pictures of the building's exterior.
"Excuse ... but what are you doing right now?"
In the end, the restaurant owner, with an air of authority, ca out and asked Yuki. She blushed and explained her situation.
"I'm a TV show producer, and I'm planning a program where I travel all over the country to find delicious restaurants."
"Oh, a restaurant program?"
"Yes. That's why I was taking pictures of this place, which is famous for the best Kobe beef. I'm sorry I didn't ntion it earlier."
The restaurant owner hesitated for a mont, then suddenly widened his eyes and exclaid.
"You should have told us beforehand if you were doing sothing like that!!"
With that, he rushed into the restaurant and quickly put on his coat. He ca out with the head chef in tow.
"Okay, now take your pictures."
"I want to capture a more natural shot..."
"Well, at least take one for rembrance. If a program like that cos out in the future, rember us as the best Kobe beef restaurant! I used to major in photography, you see."
"Sure, thank you."
Click. When Yuki took the picture, the restaurant owner reached out to her, saying, "You two are a couple, right? Give the cara. I'll take a nice picture for you. I used to major in photography, after all."
A couple, you say? I was about to raise my hand to correct him, but Yuki quickly handed him the cara and said, "Yes, we are. Thank you."
With the restaurant owner's service, we filled our stomachs with delicious Kobe beef for lunch. Rather than getting back in the car right away, I felt like taking a walk. Fortunately, there was a walking path next to the restaurant, so Yuki and I started walking through the forest.
"Ah, I'm so full."
"Yeah, I think we overdid it..."
"But it was really delicious."
"But wasn't it quite expensive?"
I was thankful that Yuki had co all the way to Kyoto to give us this treat as a reward for winning the competition. However, she shook her head and replied.
"No, I wanted to co here once. My senior colleague at work is from Kobe, and she would always brag about how delicious the Kobe beef is. Thanks to you, I could co here comfortably. Having a car is great after all."
Walking through the winter forest, despite feeling a bit chilly, I began to feel refreshed.
"Junhyuk."
"Yes?"
"Have a great trip to the United States."
"Oh... Thank you."
"And when you co back... I hope you'll just call 'Yuki' instead of 'Yuki-san.'"
Looking up at with a big smile, I unknowingly nodded and replied.
"Oh, sure. I'll do that."
...
January 7th, Onboard a flight to the United States
In the business class, I stretched as I asked a passing flight attendant:
"How much longer until we arrive?"
"About 30 minutes left, sir. You've had a long journey."
"No, you're the one who's been working hard."
"You were sleeping so soundly. Did you have a good dream?"
"I can't rember, but it seed like that. By the way, sorry, could you get a glass of water? I'm a bit thirsty."
"Of course. Please wait a mont."
The flight attendant nodded with a bright smile and went to fetch the water. As I wet my dry throat, I gazed out the window and realized we had already arrived in the heart of the United States.
A short while later, the plane landed at JFK Airport in New York. I gently woke up Gunpei-san, who had been sleeping until the mont of landing.
"Gunpei-san, we've arrived. We're at the airport."
"Already...?"
Already, he says. This guy... He's spent nearly 20 hours on the plane. Soone might think he's taken a bus from Kyoto to Tokyo.
I woke up the groggy Gunpei-san, and after collecting our luggage, we headed to the arrival hall. While there was a brief customs check and visa formalities, it was not a problem since I already had a business visa from working in Japan for a year.
Not to ntion, we didn't eat much of the in-flight al, mostly just sleeping. Gunpei-san, who seed exhausted, showed signs of hunger. When I finally grabbed Gunpei-san's suitcase and led him to the arrival hall, I heard a joyful voice.
"Boss!! Over here!!"
It was Ellis' voice. Alongside him, Yamashita-san and Wilson-san had co to greet us at the airport. It had been three years since I had seen these beloved faces, and my eyes got a little teary at the sight.
"Wilson-san! Yamashita-san! Ellis!"
Then, Gunpei-san, who was standing next to , looked at them and said.
"Kang is quite popular even in the United States, huh?"
"Of course. You must be hungry; let's have a al first."
"Right, I'm really hungry."
"Who goes on a flight and only sleeps without eating the in-flight al?"
"Oddly enough, whenever I eat sothing on a plane, I don't feel well."
"Are you being picky? Let's go."
With a smile, Gunpei-san followed silently behind .
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