一期一会 (Chance Encounter)


    “Alright. Uncle can work here. Your food is good. Even better than Papa. But Uncle’s stories are not as good as Papa’s. Uncle Takkun should work on getting better at telling stories, okay? Then you can tell Sayla stories too.”


    Takuya smiled to himself as he finished washing the pots and pans. He was recalled what she Sayla had said after they had eaten, and smiled.


    Of course, her father told better stories. The ones who have left always do, it is the duty of the living to listen and remember. When he was gone, perhaps nothing would remain but the memories of the stories he had shared and the meals he had prepared. It was a little saddening to think that nothing else may remain besides that.


    At least, as he had hoped, Sayla, and everyone had seemed to enjoy his food. He had a good instict for this after observing customers for so long. He knew when people praised his cooking with empty compliments, or left without saying anything, while others were mindful to tidy up thier empty plate or bowl, as if to show thanks for a good meal.


    With Sayla’s approval, Mr. Takeda laid out an incredible deal. There would be no interview or contract. He was free to come and go as he pleased. Supplies and ingredients would be provided, as well as some cash for incidentals. He could set the menu and the hours as he liked, provided he let Sayla work as much as she wanted, and he kept an eye out for her. The only commitment he wanted was to ensure that his granddaughter could come to this place, greet customers and know that this place, built by her father, was still alive, serving customers. For the next six weeks, until the end of summer vacation, they wanted to keep this memory alive for her.


    Of course, she would only come with one of her grandparents. They all lived together in a house in Yuushima, only about a fifteen-minute walk from the restaurant. Sayla and her mother actually lived in a second house on the same property as her grandparents. Before she was born, her parents had lived in the attached apartment next to the restaurant, but since moving to the larger house, her father had used the small living space as a place to rest, or as a place where Sayla could sleep when she joined her father while he worked.


    Until Takuya decided he wanted to move on, Mr. Takeda offered the apartment for him to use, free of charge. It was simply too good an offer to refuse. The only real question was why he was being offered such a deal by someone he had just met. Mr. Takeda was certainly a doting grandparent, willing to do anything to please his granddaughter, but it was equally clear that he was not a fool either. This question was burning a hole in Takuya’s stomach as he finished wiping things down in the kitchen.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    It was already getting late, and Ah-kun had left to drive back to his home in Setagaya. It was a long drive, but he promised to come back to help the next morning. Sayla had nodded off, so they, had put her on the sofa in the apartment to sleep while Takuya had finished cleaning up the restaurant. Once he had finished, he poured a couple of cups of coffee into mugs, and brought them out on a tray to the table Mr. Tanaka had been sitting at quietly, reading something on his phone.


    The old man was smoking one of those new smokeless e-cigarettes. Takuya had never picked up smoking, finding it to be an expensive habit that wasn’t very compatible with the food service industry anymore. He was even more happy with that decision, now that the world had moved on to even more expensive and strange options like vapes and e-cigarettes. He placed the mugs on the table, one in front of Mr. Takeda, and the other across from him, then he sat down. The old man looked up with a start.


    “Don’t worry, I found some decaf.”


    The old man smiled, then, with a sheepish look, stuffed the short cigarette back in the strange plastic box that looked like a portable phone charger.


    “Thanks,” Mr. Takeda said, and lifted the cup to his lips.


    “The meal was delicious. You were being humble when you said you could cook a little. It’s clear you are a professional, not just in what you prepared, but in how you did it. You certainly know your way around a restaurant kitchen. It’s hard to believe you are so good at such a young age. How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking.”


    “Twenty-five, I’ll be twenty-six in a couple of months.”


    The old man nodded. “Indeed, very impressive. Even your demeanor. At first, I thought you were quite a bit older, maybe closer to my son’s age… He was thirty-four…”


    Takuya could sense that it was time to explain himself. The old man had been polite, but he was certainly curious, and considering the offer of support, it was only proper that he be open and frank about his background.


    “You must be curious… about me.”


    The old man feigned surprise, but the sharp look in his eyes told Takuya that he had read the man correctly.


    “I can see that you are the type of person who puts great thought into everything you do, every action, no matter how small. I can tell you have had… difficulties in your life, but it doesn’t seem to have made you hard and bitter. I have known many people in my life. Before I retired, I was a businessman. I worked at a large company with many employees, and I had to work with many of them. I think I became a pretty good judge of character, although I wasn’t to first,” the old man chuckled.


    “It may be a bit long, but if you don’t mind, I feel I should at least share this with you, considering all you have done for me, a stranger, after all. That is, if you would like to hear it.”


    After taking a sip of coffee, he took a deep breath and began telling his story.