He couldn’t help but question the specter about his bizarre behavior in front of that apartment building. But at the same time, he also wanted to avoid ruining his master’s mood while they were on the road.
He was torn between these thoughts, as if a tug-of-war was going on in his mind.
As for Shino, he was sitting on the riverbank, staring at the surface of the water, with his legs stretched out comfortably. There wasn’t enough emotion on his face for Masamichi to read.
With no other choice, Masamichi decided to enjoy the scenery while he waited for Shino to do something.
Some of the nouryou yuka eateries appeared to be open for lunch, and he could see some customers seated here and there.
The yuka is a large wooden deck that extends from each restaurant along the Kamo River. It was a festive sight, with some restaurants decorated with lanterns and such.
The traditional business must have begun as a way for people to enjoy a meal with the cool evening breeze blowing over the river, a way to spend the hot, humid Kyoto summers a little more comfortably.
Oh, right, it’s almost lunchtime. It’s nice to eat outside, and it looks fun. And the smell is heavenly!
Masamichi’s nose twitched when he picked up the aroma wafting through the air.
It’s true what that cab driver said about various restaurants being out there. I smell Chinese food. I wonder what Chinese food in Kyoto is like. I want to try it.
Amused by the fact that he had become quite the gourmand, Masamichi smiled.
Back when he lived at home, he had grown up eating the simple, home-cooked meals his mother and grandmother made.
When he started living on his own, he understood how nice those home-cooked meals had been. Still, he was never particularly interested in food.
But after moving in with Shino, he started eating the homestyle meals that Shino made. He looked bored but cooked with the utmost care, and that was the first time that Masamichi became serious about food.
It was because, through Shino, Masamichi could feel the love that Yoriko felt for her family through the meals she cooked for them, which she taught Shino. He realized then that Yoriko’s efforts in cooking their daily meals were the same as those of his mother and grandmother.
To savor the flavors of something that someone had made for him.
To be curious about the ingredients that Shino was particular about.
That was the type of attitude that Masamichi had naturally nurtured during these past six months.
However, the reason why Shino served Masamichi homemade foods was because he believed the boy’s excellent chi would stagnate if he didn’t eat right.
You could say that as a specter who loved the taste of his chi, he was only protecting his own diet.
Still, I’m super happy and grateful that he cooks delicious meals for me. It would be even nicer if he let me help, but he doesn’t want that. I guess I’m too clumsy, and it frustrates him…
Pondering such thoughts, Masamichi looked at the surface of the river that Shino was staring at.
Illuminated by the bright sun, the river was wide, and the currents flowed slowly and quietly.
Everyone seemed to be relaxed and enjoying themselves—the people walking on the nearby bridge, those strolling along the riverbed, and those who sat on the grass along the gentle slope of the riverbed.
Oh, yeah, they were saying on TV before that this riverbed was famous for couples sitting at equal intervals from one another.
With that thought in mind, he could see that it wasn’t as crowded as he’d seen on TV, but more than ten couples sat along the river.
He had no idea about the couples’ relationships, but they maintained equal distance from one another, including from him and Shino.
I guess we did that unconsciously. It’s funny, like everyone’s being territorial.
Upon closer examination, some were eating out of lunch boxes laid out on the grass before them. That made sense. Lunch on the riverbed was more casual than at the restaurants by the river, and the atmosphere was wonderful.
I want to suggest to Shino that we have lunch somewhere, too, but he doesn’t have to eat human food, and I’m not very hungry, since I ate too much at breakfast. Too bad.
Masamichi let out a small sigh.
The breakfast that Henri so enthusiastically prepared for them was a dream breakfast, similar to what one might expect at a Japanese inn—not that it included many dishes.
It consisted of a small pot of boiled tofu, grilled salmon, a thick omelet, pickled vegetables, and lustrous rice cooked in a clay pot.
Each dish was wonderfully delicious and unpretentious, simple fare, but prepared after careful consideration of the ingredients, seasonings, and cooking methods.
Even Shino said it was good, which was rare for him, and Masamichi ended up having three bowls of rice—with scorched rice, a lovely delicacy, soaked in green tea as his final bowl. He’d felt like his stomach was going to burst when he checked out.
At this moment, he felt envious of people enjoying delicious meals, but he still didn’t feel like eating.
I don’t know why Shino came here, but this is great. We didn’t have this kind of time to relax when we were in London.
Masamichi pulled his knees to his chest and held them loosely with his arms, resting his chin on the kneecaps like a grade-school student during gym class.
The sun warmed his entire body, and perhaps because of the earlier exhaustion he’d experienced, he started getting drowsy.
As Masamichi was about to doze off, Shino whispered, “I thought that at least this place would have traces remaining of the old days…but the water’s surface is about all that hasn’t changed. They may call Kyoto an ancient capital, but most things change after a thousand years.”
“…!”
The sleepiness was instantly gone, and Masamichi looked up from his knees.
“Is this another familiar place for you? Did you often come here with Tokifuyu?”
Shino nodded slightly.
“I crossed the bridge countless times doing Tokifuyu’s errands. But this is the first time I’ve come down to the riverbed.”
“Oh. Then it’s full of memories for you, even if things have changed.”
“I have no sensitivities to appreciate nostalgia.”
Rather than pointing out that the specter had been going around to all the places he’d frequented in the past, Masamichi held his tongue and waited for Shino to continue.
“Here on this riverbed…in fact, this very spot where we are…is where Tokifuyu lost his life.”