The newly opened second-hand store near the central station is not large, or even relatively small, but it gives Naruse a very good feeling.
He had visited many large mall-like second-hand stores in Tokyo, and his experiences varied, but none could compare to the half an hour he spent wandering around this store.
This feeling is very wonderful, but it is not easy to put it into words. Naruse thought about it for a long time.
"It should be said that it feels within reach?"
"Ah...yes."
The shop owner was away, so the person who took over the job was a female college student. Although her perfunctory smile when she couldn't answer the conversation looked a bit cute, after all, the communication couldn't continue, which made Naruse very regretful.
The two continued to browse in the store, and Shangzi stopped and touched the suitcase on the shelf.
“The texture is really good.”
Naruse glanced at the label below, "This is a suitcase made in Italy in the 1950s."
"I'm older than the two Harumis and I put together." Naoko sighed, glanced at the price of the suitcase, and quickly withdrew her hand, "There really is everything here."
"This kind of small second-hand store collects all types of second-hand goods, and generally they don't specifically classify items." Naruse looked at the suitcase, where there was an old-fashioned German radio, and next to it were several book spines. The faded old books, "Because of this, only by walking into the store in person can you know what unique... things will be hidden inside."
Shangzi looked at him, and an idea suddenly came to his mind.
"Is there anything you want to buy Harumi?"
"Well……"
Naruse glanced at the dazzling array of second-hand products on the shelves, his eyes uncertain.
"Let's go shopping some more."
The two of them didn't leave until three or four in the afternoon. When they walked out of the second-hand store, they still didn't buy anything.
"Don't you like anything?"
"It's better to say that there are too many things that I want to take back, so let them continue to stay here."
Confirming his thoughts, Shangzi smiled and continued: "It's not too far from Jingao. Chunhai can come here often."
Looking at the inconspicuous second-hand store in the surrounding row of shops, Naruse nodded.
"Let's go back."
When they arrived at the bus stop, the two of them waited for a while. Looking at the timetable, the next bus would not arrive in about ten minutes.
Inadvertently catching a glimpse of a snack shop on the roadside, Naruse thought about it and asked, "Have Naoko been to that snack shop?"
Shang Zi followed his gaze and quickly shook his head.
"I've never been there. But I heard from girls in the same grade that the snacks in that store seem pretty good because the prices are relatively expensive."
"What kind of judgment is this?"
Naruse smiled, stood up and said, "The bus won't be here for a while, let's go over there and have a look."
He walked to the pastry shop, not forgetting to pick up the large bag of fabrics. Shangzi, who was lagging behind, was a little surprised.
She could name a hundred of his preferences without thinking, so she was pretty sure that Japanese sweets were not among them.
For him, snacks are something he doesn’t dislike. He may eat them occasionally, but they have nothing to do with “liking” them.
Has the taste changed?
With so many thoughts in his mind, Shangzi was not slow and quickly followed.
"welcome."
When I walked into the dim sum shop, there were no other customers. The clerk at the counter was enthusiastic but not overly enthusiastic, looking at them with a smile.
Naoko looked at Naruse to see what he was planning, but he also looked at her: "Naoko, pick whatever you want to eat."
She was even more surprised, but she didn't say much, "Let's take a look together."
The two walked to the glass counter and glanced at the various snacks such as dango, yokan, and kashiwa mochi placed there.
Naoko rarely comes to this kind of shop, not to mention that at this time, curiosity is far stronger than appetite, and her attention is still on Naruse beside her.
He stood in front of the counter for a while, his wandering eyes suddenly stopped, then he raised his head and said to the clerk inside:
"Please bring me one... no, two copies of this."
He pointed to one of the snacks.
Steamed Yokan?
Shangzi took a second look.
"Well... take an extra portion and pack it separately." Naruse said again.
"OK."
According to his request, the clerk quickly packaged the snacks.
"Where's Naoko?" Naruse turned around and asked.
She thought for a moment, smiled at the clerk and said, "Bring me some steamed yokan, too."
"OK."
After paying the money and taking the packaged snacks, Naruse handed one of them to Naoko.
"Thanks."
"Let's go."
As soon as the two of them walked out of the dim sum shop, a bus drove over from a distance.
"It looks like the bus is going back... hurry."
He hurried to the platform, waited for the bus to stop, and then got on the bus to find a seat. When the bus started again, Shangzi breathed a sigh of relief.
Wiping the faint sweat from her forehead, she looked down at the snacks in her hand. Just as she was about to speak, Naruse suddenly said: "Haixing's father likes to eat steamed yokan."
"..."
Shangzi was startled and then he understood.
"A souvenir?"
"Um."
I see.
"The one packaged separately is for auntie?"
"Otherwise she will complain again."
The bus moved forward with a slight sway. Naruse looked away from the window and said, "Naoko, let's go back later. I'll go to the Maki Hotel and I'll be back soon."
"Then let's go together." Shangzi said, "I also want to say hello."
Naruse nodded and said nothing.
Almost half an hour later, the bus arrived at the Qingliu area, where the two got off.
Walking along the prefectural road and passing the intersection going home, the road turned slightly to the north, then turned south. After passing this bend, Naruse quickly saw the sign of a store not far away: [Make Hotel]. (For Sale
liquor store)
The shop is as old as it was when he left it four years ago, and it was once his home.
"give it to me."
Getting closer, Naoko took the cloth from his hand, and then handed him two portions of steamed yokan packaged together.
Arriving in front of the hotel, Naruse took a deep breath before walking in.
Facing the slightly confused shopkeeper at the counter, he bowed slightly.
"Long time no see, Mr. Seiichiro. I am Harumi."
...
After coming out of Maki Hotel, Naruse turned around and said goodbye to Maki Seiichiro again.
"This used to be your home, no, um... Anyway, Chunhai can come over and play at any time."
"OK."
"And Shangzi too."
Shangzi smiled and nodded in response.
After walking far away, the two of them looked back together and found Seiichiro Maki still looking at them at the door of the store, so they lowered their heads at the same time.
Maki Seiichiro waved his hand and turned back to the store.
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"Go home." Shangzi said.
Naruse nodded, looked at the signboard of Maki Hotel again, turned and left.
The hotel owner who just walked in was his first stepfather.
After Naruse Mamoru passed away after a long illness, Matsu Chiaki raised his son alone and gradually became unable to cope with it;
When her biological father passed away, Harumi was only seven years old. Suffering this blow, her personality took a turn for the worse and became gloomy in the following two years.
Out of multiple considerations, Matsu Chiaki finally made the decision and agreed to remarry Maki Seiichiro, who ran a hotel. His wife also died of illness, leaving behind a daughter, Haixing, who was only a few months younger than Harumi.
However, the reorganized family did not bring much warmth to each other - the two adults got along well, but conflicts broke out between the two children who were originally very close.
Perhaps because he misses his mother who died of illness, or because of something else, Haixing is very disgusted with Song Qianqiu, who has become a stepmother, and has never shown a good face, even though she has expressed her admiration and love for her more than once before;
In order to protect his mother, Harumi would naturally not treat Haixing kindly, and would often "discipline" her as a stepbrother.
As time went by, the contradictions became more and more intense.
After barely surviving for two years, Chiaki Matsu finally divorced Seiichiro Maki.
Another year later, Matsu Chiaki chose to come back after being contacted by her agent, and took Harumi to leave Aomori and go to Tokyo for development. That was also the last time Harumi saw Haixing.
"Uncle Seiichiro said just now that Haisei is not at home, Harumi was obviously relieved." Naoko said.
Naruse pursed his lower lip and turned to look at her: "Naoko seems to be like this too."
She smiled, "Because I'm worried that Harumi and Haixing will quarrel as soon as they meet."
"She's already in high school, so she can't be as immature as before."
Shangzi looked down at the steamed yokan in his hand and didn't answer.
Naruse frowned, "Could it be worse?"
She shook her head, as if trying to excuse herself with a smile, "I can't say."
"Is she still in school?"
"Of course. Haixing is also in Tsugao, and he is in the same class as Kazuha." Naoko looked at him and said, after a pause, he added, "I am in the same class as Hikaru."
Naruse suddenly realized that his class after transferring seemed to have not been decided yet.