The starry night seemed to go on forever.
“I’m only here until the blue moon ends,” she said in a clear, cat-like voice. The pale blue moonlight was shining on her, and I wondered why she was at this mysterious place during a blue moon. She looked at me without flinching, telling me an array of stories.
My thoughts drifted to Saki, and with it came the realization that I had to visit her again and discover my true feelings for her. The hours went by as the air filled with the gentle sweetness of summer flowers.
Grandma was bent over, tending to the flowerbed on the western side of the garden. With her watering can, she showered each flower with love, making sure all were well taken care of. I could still see them all reaching for the sun this morning.
Slipping into my sandals, I made my way up to Grandma, who turned around upon hearing my footsteps behind her.
“I got this,” I said
“Are you sure about this?” she asked me as she handed me the canister full of water.
“Absolutely,” I smiled confidently and took it from her hands.
“Thank you, dear.” Grandma sat on the porch and watched me as I tended to the flowers. Marigolds, petunias, daisies, snapdragons — all these vibrant colors created a beautiful symphony of sorts when covered with water. What was the name of that bright yellow one again?
Although there were some I couldn’t remember, my grandmother had lovingly taught me their names throughout the years they had been growing together in this flower bed.
“Keiichi,” she said softly, “you’ve grown up, haven’t you?” Grandma said.
As I was tending to the garden, a voice called out from behind me. I continued to water the plants and replied, “Do you think so?”
“Yeah. You have certainly grown taller. Your back and hands seem wider too.”
Indeed, my growth spurt had caused me considerable discomfort during summers in junior high school.
“You have grown into a kind child,” she said.
I could not understand what made her say this all of a sudden. Then she added with deeper affection, “Keiichi, you have grown to be such a good kid.”
Whenever adults expressed their approval of me in this manner, I felt embarrassed yet overwhelmed with joy.
It was particularly meaningful when my grandmother said it — it reminded me of how lucky I was to have her in my life. I responded timidly, trying to conceal my happiness, “That’s not true.”
The flower beds were flourishing with various colors and shades of blooms, surrounded by vibrant green trees. With my watering can empty, I decided to fetch some more water from the tap. Carrying the heavy metal container back and forth seemed like an arduous task for elders like my grandma; hence, I wished it would rain during summer.
However, it’s not always feasible for rain to fall exactly when needed, so I had to go out and buy a hose for the garden. Living with elderly people was full of challenges that only someone living in the same house could understand. But Grandma never grumbled about them… a sense of unease swelled up within me as I thought about leaving her behind in Kyoto when I returned home.
“Hey, Keiichi, are you off to town again today?”
“Yeah, there are a few things I need to get.”
“Well, while you’re out, could you grab some croquettes from Nakamura-ya for us?”
“Sure, I'll grab them now,” I said after watering the plants. The summer sky was high, and white clouds floated above. It didn’t seem like it was going to rain after all.
“I’m going, too,” My younger sister, Akane, called from the entranceway. She’d been listening in on our conversation from her spot by the flower bed. “Hey, are you going to town today, Keiichi?”
“Yeah, I am. Why do you ask?”
“I want to come with you.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. “Sure, you can come.
“What about mom?” I asked.
“She’s actually going to a reunion today.”
I shrugged, indicating that parents have their own lives to enjoy.
So, Akane and I went off to Arashiyama — it teemed with people in the daytime. Grandma said that Arashiyama in the summer had nothing on the beauty of cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves. But we made our way through the crowd regardless. We started from Togetsukyō Bridge and walked north down the main street looking for Nakamura-ya’s croquettes; one could buy fresh ones right outside the storefront. As far as I was concerned, those croquettes were unbeatable — no other croquette compared. We turned right at Tenryū-ji Temple along Arashiyama Street.
As we left the main road, the hustle and bustle of the crowds faded until there was nothing left but us. We took leisurely strides past a variety of cafés and tea specialty stores littering the walkway, before my gaze finally came upon Nakamura-ya in front of an ancient railway bridge. The iconic brown flag was an indicator of Arashiyama’s famous beef croquettes, as well as the alluring aroma, which sparked memories from long ago.
I made my order with certainty. “Thirty croquettes, please… and two more which I will eat here.”
My sister gave me a dubious look, noticing how many I had asked for. “You really think you can eat that much?”
I grinned widely in response. “How could I resist? There’s no way I'd turn down such delicious food.” Enough to feed my family of six — not to mention two extra to savor right away. I requested my order be wrapped up for takeout. Then, I quickly grabbed one of them and enveloped it in white paper before passing it to Akane.
“It’s so good. But hot,” she said between mouthfuls, struggling with the freshly fried pastry.
“Take your time,” I replied calmly. “Nobody is going to steal it from you.”
“I know, but it’s too tasty — I can’t help but eat it fast,” she exclaimed, fully consumed by the flavor as she inhaled her snack.
I laughed at her excitement as I enjoyed my own croquette.
“Hey, big brother, hurry up and eat.”
I could only see her eyes peeking through the white paper wrapping her face mask. She was trying too hard. I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
After eating her delicious croquettes, she led me to the Arashiyama highway, where there were many stylish storefronts. We decided to go into one of the souvenir shops that had many female customers inside. I didn’t have any particular items in mind, so I waited outside while she shopped.