Chapter 175:
Still, with unfocused eyes, Tadano looked at the man speaking to him.
Who is this? Is he a station attendant?
At that mont,
Zzzt!
Ugh.
A sudden, sharp pain shot through his head. Tadano couldn't precisely describe the sensation, but it felt as if needles were piercing through his head.
Tadano, wincing in pain, grabbed his head, causing the station attendant to be surprised.
Why, what's happening? Are you okay?
Unable to respond imdiately due to the intense pain, Tadano clutched his head. After a while, when the pain subsided to so extent, the station attendant, looking concerned, asked,
Why, what's happening? Are you okay?
Tadano couldn't answer imdiately because of the pain. After so ti, when he beca sowhat accustod to the ache, he asked the station attendant,
Where is this?
This is Sapporo Station.
Sapporo Station?
As if not understanding the words, Tadano inquired with the station attendant. Then, he strained his eyes and looked around. As the station attendant had ntioned, there were several signs with a map of Sapporo and the words Sapporo Station' in various places.
It is Sapporo Station. But why am I here? What reason do I have to co to Sapporo? Oh.
Deep in thought, Tadano recalled why he ca to Sapporo.
"Yeah, I was on a trip with the headmaster. I planned to return to Tokyo right away, intending to catch the first train tomorrow morning. But why am I sleeping here?"
As Tadano woke up, mories started to return vaguely. The headache had mostly disappeared by now. Still confused, he felt he could move.
Tadano stood up, picking up his belongings.
"What ti is the first train to Tokyo tomorrow morning?"
"At six in the morning."
"Six in the morning I see."
Nodding slightly, Tadano headed toward the exit of the station. Watching his back, a station employee shouted,
"Don't miss the train tomorrow!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing the words from behind, Tadano tilted his head, finding it odd. Yet, he didn't pay much attention, thinking it was addressed to soone else.
Outside the station, it was considerably cold compared to the inside. Tadano zipped up his jacket, surveying the surroundings.
"I need to find accommodation until tomorrow morning. But before that I should grab a al."
Being close to the station, there should be plenty of places to stay. Tadano decided to focus on having a al first.
Even though it was quite late, many restaurants near the station were still open. However, they were crowded and noisy.
"I don't care about the taste; I just need to find a quiet place."
Just then,
"Excuse ! Custor!"
Soone from inside the station ran towards him, shouting. Wondering if soone was calling him, Tadano turned toward the source of the noise. It was the station employee he had seen earlier, running towards him with a bag in hand.
"Heh, heh. You run fast. You left this bag."
"Bag? Oh."
Only then did Tadano realize that his back felt empty. He slightly bowed his head in gratitude to the station employee.
"Thank you."
"You're welco. It's my job. Well then, be careful. Don't miss the train tomorrow morning."
"Yes? Oh, yes."
They even worry about
until tomorrow. Quite a kind station employee.'
Thinking nothing of it, Tadano put the bag on his back. Then he called out to the station employee who was about to go back into the station.
"Excuse ."
"Yes?"
"Since you're here, can I ask you sothing? Is there a quiet restaurant around here?"
"Oh, you want to eat? But a quiet restaurant um. It might be noisy in front of the station. Instead, I know a place with good food, right in front of this-."
"I just need to fill my stomach quickly; taste doesn't matter. Anyway, you don't know any quiet restaurants?"
After thinking for a mont in response to Tadano's question, the station employee said,
"If you go straight into that alley, there's a place with several food stalls. It's relatively quiet since only locals and acquaintances go there."
"You an an alley with food stalls Thank you."
"Don't ntion it. Oh, by the way, don't go to that ran shop. It's very noisy there."
After a nod in response to the station employee's advice, Tadano headed into the alley he had been told about. The alley didn't have many streetlights, making it quite dim. Yet, for so reason, this street felt strangely familiar.
A little later, a few food carts appeared at the end of the alley. They seed to be the food carts the station official had ntioned.
Wasn't he telling
not to go to a ran place?'
Tadano scrutinized the food carts, but from their appearance alone, it was impossible to tell which one served ran.
After briefly checking each place, Tadano, with a wry smile, headed towards the shabbiest food cart, assuming it had the fewest custors.
However, as soon as he stepped inside, Tadano realized he had made a wrong choice.
"Welco! It's Rockhil!"
The lively voice of the waiter at the entrance and the vibrant conversations inside made it clear that this was the ran shop the station official had talked about.
"Last night, our dog gave birth! Five puppies!"
"Ouch, why does my stomach hurt so much? What did I eat wrong?"
"My father-in-law and mother-in-law are coming tomorrow. I don't know what to serve. They ca from Tokyo."
"Hahaha! I told you yesterday! That nobleman is not an ordinary person!"
The noise inside the shop was so overwhelming that Tadano sighed lightly and turned toward the door.
Of all places, why did I co in here? I need to get out quickly.'
As Tadano hurriedly tried to leave,
"Co this way! We have seats inside!"
The overly cheerful waiter grabbed Tadano's arm, seemingly under the impression that he was trying to leave because there were no seats available.
Shaking off the waiter's grasp, Tadano said, "No, thank you. It's too noisy-."
"Oh, don't say that. Since you're here, why not have a al and enjoy it? And today is our monthly special ran day. It would be a sha if you left without trying it. You've been coming quite often lately, and I can tell you like our ran."
Lately coming often?'
While Tadano was puzzled by the waiter's words, the waiter led him to a small table inside. As Tadano awkwardly took his seat, the waiter spoke.
"Well then, we'll serve it as a full course. You usually enjoyed our Miso Ran, right?"
"Yes well, that's fine."
"Great! Please wait a mont!"
As Tadano placed his order hesitantly, the waiter imdiately responded and headed toward the kitchen. Tadano looked at the waiter's retreating figure with a sowhat doubtful expression.
What's going on?'
It was natural for such questions to arise. Tadano was seeing this waiter for the first ti, yet the waiter treated him as if he were a regular custor who had visited several tis before.
It seed a bit strange, but he decided not to dwell on it. It wasn't sothing particularly important.
Tadano closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his temples. His head had been aching strangely today, both at Sapporo Station earlier and now.
Am I catching a cold?'
However, he didn't have a fever, unlike a typical cold. Perhaps recent stress from various events was the cause.
I should just take it easy when I get ho.'
As Tadano was contemplating this, the waiter who had made the odd remark spoke awkwardly.
"Um sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Since all the seats are taken right now, could we ask you to share a table? It's Yomi-san; you've sat together a few tis."
Yomi, who sat with
a few tis?'
Even now, Tadano couldn't understand what the waiter was saying. Considering the waiter's previous statents, he might be confusing Tadano with another custor.
"Yes, that's fine."
"Oh, thank you. As a token of our appreciation, I'll add one more of our house specialties, Mozuku, on the house-."
"That's enough."
As Tadano replied coldly, the waiter, as if expecting such a reaction, shrugged and stepped back. Imdiately, a woman sat in front of him and struck up a conversation.
"Thank you for allowing
to share the table. I usually eat here before going to work. Uh but you're a new face, right? It's interesting. Only regulars co here."
""
Tadano paused at the woman's words. There was sothing, or precisely, he felt like he had heard the phrase sowhere' before. However, he couldn't recall it exactly. It was like a sentence from a textbook he had seen just before an exam.
When Tadano looked at himself with a slightly puzzled expression, the woman smiled brightly and said, "What's the matter?"
"Well, it's just"
"Just?"
"nothing."
"It's not nothing. Tell . Did you fall in love at first sight or sothing?"
At the woman's words, Tadano looked genuinely puzzled, tilting his head.
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