allonlinenovel Chapter 214: Cafe in Ginza
Chapter 214: Cafe in Ginza
Winter, the end of November.
As December was approaching, a cold wave swept across the city and a cold rain fell on the streets of Ginza.
Kuroda Mu first turned off the lights in the kitchen and swept the floor again. Then he placed the newly made desserts in a refrigerated transparent display cabinet, and finally put away the black high stools.
After doing all this, it was only 6:20 and it was not yet completely dark.
Today is a rainy day, but as usual, there is no customer.
He sighed softly and decided to close the store early and make a bowl of hot miso soup for his daughter who had not yet returned home.
This is probably one of the few things he made that is edible.
There were only a few pedestrians on the road, wearing thick winter clothes and holding umbrellas, hurrying along.
A cold wind blew by, and slanting raindrops hit his cheeks, slid down his neck into his collar, and he shivered all over with cold.
The street lights came on.
Turning the corner of the street, Kuroda Mu glanced inadvertently and caught a glimpse of a person curled up against the wall of the dark alley.
Her messy silver hair fell on her shoulders, covering most of her face and leaving only her back exposed.
Cold water droplets continued to drip, seeping into the thin black gown.
He looked very lonely and probably not very old, only a little older than his daughter at most.
How could he fall here in such a miserable state?
Are you encountering any difficulties?
Kurodagi is also a father.
A child like this, wandering the streets of Ginza in a dazed state, looks like a homeless animal. Anyone who sees him would feel sorry for him.
"Miss." After hesitating for a moment, Kuroda held the umbrella over her head and asked carefully, "Are you okay?"
He is tall and strong, much taller than ordinary people, and is always misunderstood as a gang leader.
Even though he tried his best to show kindness and gave what he thought was his most amiable smile, he still seemed to scare her.
Shivering slightly, she huddled and put her handkerchief to her lips, then turned to look at him, revealing a pair of dull blue eyes.
"Don't be afraid."
Kurodagi waved his hands repeatedly. He held the umbrella above her, but took a step back and pointed to the police booth not far away and said, "Look, the police are right there."
"I'm not a bad person." He explained helplessly, "I just want to ask if you need help."
"I know."
The girl's voice was hoarse and dry, and her face was terribly pale.
She coughed gently twice, like a sick patient who had been coughing for a long time.
"I recognize you," she said. "We've met before."
*
I don't know how long I wandered the streets.
I just remember going to many places like a wandering soul.
It was sunny at first, but after a while, the weather became gloomy and it started to rain.
I should have held an umbrella or opened the car, but I did neither.
It rained all the way and I had nowhere to go, so I had to hide in an alley near Ginza.
........
"It's simply brewed hot cocoa." The boss pushed the mug in his hand over and said embarrassedly, "My cooking skills are not very good, so I can only treat you to this."
“It’s okay.” I shook my head and took a sip. The sweet and silky taste instantly diluted the strong smell of blood in my throat and dispelled the chill brought by the cold wave.
"It's already very good." I said gratefully.
The body is gradually becoming warmer.
I stared blankly at the sky outside the glass window. Dark clouds piled up one after another, brewing for the next rain.
Dark, cold, silent, long night covering everything.
At this point, Gojo Satoru should have completed his mission and returned.
You would be confused if you didn't leave any message, couldn't get through on the phone, and didn't know where you went.
Maybe he will come to see me...It's better if he doesn't come.
All my traces have been erased, and the surveillance cameras won't capture me. Even Gojo Satoru won't be able to find me.
It would be nice if I could just disappear.
"It's already very cold outside." The boss asked, "Why are you hiding in the alley alone?"
"Are you having any trouble?"
"........."
My eyelashes moved, but I didn't say anything.
Seeing that I didn't want to talk about this topic, he changed the topic again, thinking of what he had just said, and asked, "Do you know me?"
“.......Yeah.” I nodded.
My throat was itchy and it felt like a rough, sharp stone was grinding against my throat. I swallowed my hot cocoa hard and explained, "It happened many years ago."
"You probably don't remember."
I whispered, "The dessert shop that just opened in Roppongi... had the same name as this one."
I pointed to the sign at the door.
“I waited in line for a long time, got a dessert coupon through an interview, and had the limited edition Swiss roll.”
“Because it was so delicious,” I said, “It left me with precious memories, so I still remember it now.”
"It was at that time." The boss said suddenly, "I'm glad that my wife's craftsmanship can stay in your heart along with those memories."
"I've been looking forward to trying it again..." I looked around and saw that the boss was the only one in the store. "But I guess I won't have that chance today."
"About this." The boss smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes hid deep regret. He said, "I'm afraid there will be no chance in the future."
"what?"
"My wife... passed away many years ago."
I opened my mouth and was silent for a while before I found my voice: "How could he... die?"
"Yes," he said, "after the summer."
"That day, she told me that she was going to the market to buy some ingredients and try a new product."
"But...after leaving the house that day, he never came home."
"A car suddenly hit her..." The boss paused and said, "She was rescued in the hospital for three days, but she was not saved in the end."
"........."
"Since then, I have been maintaining the shop and trying to reproduce her recipe," he said regretfully, "but time and time again, I have never succeeded."
"........."
I had been listening to the boss in silence, but the cough that had been suppressed in my chest suddenly broke out violently.
"Cough cough cough cough cough........." The strong smell of blood rushed out again and filled the nose.
I took out my handkerchief, turned sideways, and covered my lips tightly.
"Are you okay?" He was startled by me, and stood up and looked at me worriedly, "You're coughing so badly."
"Cough, cough, cough..." I took a deep breath, shook my head at him and said, "No need."
"Winter is the peak season for influenza," I said. "I didn't cover myself with a blanket when I slept a few days ago, so I caught a cold, but it's nothing serious."
"Just go back and take some medicine."
"Is that so..." He said with some concern, "Where is your home then? Do you need me to call a car for you?"
"Thank you, but no thanks." I crumpled the handkerchief into a ball and said calmly, "My home is very close to here."
The two banknotes in my wallet were placed on the table, and I said, "Thank you for your hospitality, this is all I can give you."
"Goodbye," I said. "I'm going home."