Interlude: Hino Returns

Interlude:
Hino Returns

 

“WAAAAH! Hinoooo!”

“I know, I know. You love me soooo much. There, there. Now let go of me.”

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine she’d be waiting in my room to ambush me the literal second I got home. Seriously, don’t cling to me while I’m in the middle of changing! I’m trying to take my clothes off, and no, I don’t need your help, thanks!

“It is I, Nagafuji, your faithful canine companion.”

“Hey, canine, don’t pinch my butt!”

“When I asked the maid, she let me right in! Weird how people always seem to remember me!” she exclaimed as she nuzzled her cheek against my butt. Cut it out, you little twerp!

“No, you’re weird for forgetting people all the time!”

“Waaaah!”

“Oh, be quiet, you baby! Now let me get dressed!”

I kicked her off and sent her rolling to the floor. Surprisingly, she went without a fight; she must have gotten tired of clinging to me. But for some reason, her rolls were lopsided…almost like some part of her wasn’t as flat as the rest… On second thought, let’s not go there. Good grief… And here I was planning to go to your place…

“Did you have fun in Hawaii?”

“Eh, it was pretty average.”

Except for that time one of the locals caught a shark with their bare hands and started screaming, “Dinnertime, woohoo!” But other than that, it was pretty uneventful—no walking around, except to go from the hotel to the private beach or the pool and back. Just another summer trip abroad, really.

Out in the hall, I could hear flustered footsteps racing this way and that, and every now and then, I caught a glimpse of one of my brothers in silhouette through the paper doors. Our family was so huge, it made coordinated travel a total nightmare—not just for the departure, but the return too. And since my brothers had brought their entire families, there were children screeching everywhere. This was precisely why I wanted to escape to Nagafuji’s house. But of course, this chick never took my feelings into consideration.

“You missed me that much, huh?”

“Of course I did!”

“Hmmm.” I kept forgetting that kind of joke didn’t work on her. Instead, it would only backfire, and my resulting embarrassment made it look like I wasn’t joking at all.

As I pulled on my shirt, I could hear the cry of the cicadas on the other side of the paper door. Hawaii didn’t have cicadas, so it was this sound that reminded me I was truly home again. Simultaneously, I felt a little thrill at the thought that I had left the confines of my country. Yes, bizarre though it was, I didn’t get excited about traveling until after the trip was already over. But now that I was back home, the memories were vivid and bright. Maybe I just needed a little perspective to truly appreciate everything.

And so I finally finished changing, no thanks to Nagafuji, but then she had the nerve to complain: “That’s not a kimono!”

“I’m not gonna wear all those stupid layers in the middle of summer!” Maybe once the weather cooled down. Not like Nagafuji was going anywhere anyway.

“Oh, that reminds me!” Just then, she started waving her hand in the air.

“What is it?”

“I wanna get a job at your house!”

“…What?” Usually I could understand the gist of what she meant whenever she spoke, but this time she left me utterly confused. A job? At my house? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, I want to work at your house.”

That’s the part I don’t get, genius. Our family business didn’t hire outsiders, and even if we did, personality-wise, she wasn’t cut out for that line of work. So what other “job” could she get at our house…? Marrying Goushirou?

No, no, no. Not happening. Absolutely not. For some reason, this pissed me off. Explain yourself, damn it! Fortunately, she sensed me glaring at her and started talking.

“I could be one of your family’s helpers! Then we could see each other every day!”

“Oh, that… Noooo, no, no. Forget about it.” I waved a dismissive hand.

“Whyzat?”

“Because you’re useless!”

My family was only nice to her because she was a guest; they wouldn’t tolerate her behavior if she was an employee. And besides, I did not want my stupid brothers or whoever else barking orders at her. The thought pissed me off even more. The Nagafuji I knew was a free spirit, and I wanted her to stay that way.

“No, I’m not. Everybody needs a Nagafuji!” she declared with a little dance, making her chest jiggle. I was not amused.

“Listen here, you…”

“Think about it, Hino! Every minute I spend without you is boring, and lonely, and a big fat waste of time!” She counted on one hand as she spoke. Although she only had three main points, she extended all five fingers and held them up like that was some kind of proof. “See? Nothing but downsides!”

Light shone through the paper doors onto her fingers, creating a shadow on the tatami floor like the hands of a clock. But those hands were stuck in place, immobile, like the endless summer season.

In Hawaii, time moved slowly. With every cool breeze, I could feel myself inching forward with the rest of the world. Japan’s summers, however, felt stagnant, like an isolated dimension where the only thing that existed was heat. But sometimes, when I needed a moment to be lazy, that stillness was a comfort to me.

“So that’s why—waaaah! Hinoooo!”

She seemed to remember something partway through, because she suddenly latched onto me. And the way she nuzzled her chin against my scalp, she really was acting like my pet dog.

She’s so…

There in her arms, the thoughtless words wouldn’t leave my lips.

“You feel kinda warm. Did you bring the Hawaii sunshine back home with you?”

“Something like that,” I shrugged, playing it off.

Her pale wrists gleamed as she cradled my head. This was the one thing Hawaii didn’t have. But sure…let’s go with what you said.

~Today’s Adachi Forecast~

 

“We have food stand at next festival. You help, okay?”

“I’m sorry, but I have plans that day,” I replied, rejecting my manager’s request. “Really important plans,” I added. I was not going to let her talk me into this. Worst-case scenario, I was ready to quit if I had to.

“Hrrmmmm…”

She pretended to look worried, but then the other girl walked out wearing her cheongsam. Of course! Come to think of it, we had a new girl working here now!

“I’ll let you handle this,” I told her, bowing deeply.

Thus, I succeeded in dumping my shift on someone else instead. I refused to make this same mistake a second time. Now all possible obstacles between myself and my life’s ambition had been eliminated.

Excellent.