A Bowl of Ramen
Chapter 1: Homesick
by YYY
Hikaru picks up the phone and calls his friend Waya, "hello, Waya?"
"Hikaru? What's the matter? how come you're calling me at 6am?" Waya asks surprised.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forget the time difference. It's 6pm here. I'm at the other side of the globe."
"Oh, right. You're attending the International GO competition at New Hampshire. How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great. My opponents are all very amazing but I still managed to win."
"It's good to hear. I wish I can be there to see it. Among our circle of friends, you are the only one who made it into the Japanese team of the International GO competition. How is New Hampshire? You like the hotel you're staying in?"
"New Hampshire is beautiful! And Mount Washington Hotel is a like a gigantic white palace! Everything is so elegant here I thought I turned to a 18th centery prince! After the GO competition we get to play golf. There are two giant golf courses here! 27 holes! They are both bigger than the national park! Takes me hours to walk through the courses; but it's worth it, the grass is very green and the air is very fresh!" Hikaru chips.
"Sounds like you had a good work out. What else did you do?" Waya smiles. He is happy to hear Hikaru is having a good time.
"I ride horse and go fishing, too! The horse takes me up and down slopes after slopes of huge green mountains! And the lake is so clear! The feeling is so amazing! I wish you and Isumi are here with me!" Hikaru stops for a little bit before he continues, "Hmm…well…anyway…I talked too much. I'm sorry. I better go. I just want to check on you and see how you are doing."
Hikaru is about to hang up when Waya asks, " Hikaru, are you okay? What's the matter?"
Hikaru answers, "I'm great! Nothing is wrong."
"You don't have to lie to me. I can tell from your voice that you're sad. What's wrong? Is the GO competition very stressful?"
"No, I'm having a great time at the competition. You worry too much."
"Are you home sick, Hikaru? Is that why you're calling? You miss home and you want to talk to me?" Waya asks. There is no use in lying to Waya. Waya is like an older brother who always knows what's going on in Hikaru's mind.
"Yeah, I really miss Tokyo. It's amazing here, but it's very different too. I feel out of place here." Hikaru says.
"I knew it. I was worrying about you feeling home sick. Isumi thinks I'm being overprotective but this is the first time you are out of the country. I wish Isumi and I are there to watch over you. I have no doubt that you can take care of youself; but I still can't be at ease at the idea of you going off to another side of the world alone." Waya sighs. Hikaru feels bad that he makes his friend worry.
"Waya! Don't worry! I'm fine." Hikaru says.
"You really are fine?" Waya asks.
"Yes! I really am fine. Listen, I'm going to have dinner. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Keep your spirit up, okay? Remember you're representing our country in the competition." Waya says.
"I'll fight hard and become victorious. Talk to you next time, bye."
"Hikaru! Listen!" Waya says, "anytime you're home sick, you just call us, okay? Even if you want to talk in the middle of the night, it's still okay. Just call."
"Thank you, Waya, sorry I bother you."
"Hey, no bother. You go and have a nice dinner, okay? Bye."
"Bye." Hikaru says before hanging up the phone and change into his suit since the dinning room he is going has a formalwear dress code. After checking himself in the mirror Hikaru heads to the dinning hall.
"Please follow me, sir." A host leads Hikaru to a table next to the window. Outside the window, the ground is covered with green grasses and the mountains are filling with green trees. Beyond the mountain are beautiful blue sky and water. Everything is so lovely and quiet. It's like looking at an oil painting. Hikaru is very impressed by the view; and yet he kind of wishes he can see the busy streets of Tokyo and hears the busy noise of those streets.
The orchestra plays beautiful music while the waiter serves an elegant four-course dinner with chive cream oysters, truffle quails, sherry cream lobster, mango haddock and curry lamp chop. All the dishes look like a piece of art. It is so pretty Hikaru doesn't even know how to eat it. "I wish I have a bowl of Raman." Hikaru mutters.
After dinner, Hikaru stands up and smiles to the others at his table, "I'm done. It's nice having dinner with all of you. Have a good evening."
"Hey, little one, are you going back to your room? You're alone, aren't you? Come with us to the Cava lounge. It beats sitting in your room by yourself." The other GO players at his table say.
"Sounds wonderful." Hikaru says. He follows the other GO players down to the lounge.
"We will like some beer, and can you make the young gentleman here an alcohol-free Pina Coloda?" the GO players asks the waitress. The waitress soon brings Hikaru a Pina Coloda.
The Jazz music of the band in the lounge sounds great and the Pina Coloda tastes wonderful, but Hikaru is too homesick to enjoy them. He misses J-pop music and green tea. After finishing his drink, Hikaru thanks the other and heads back to his room. He sees the moon on the sky. "Maybe I'll feel better after I have a walk." Hikaru thinks.
Hikaru takes a moonlite stroll on the beautiful veranda. "I wonder what Isumi and Waya are doing. Are they going to the salon and play GO now? Maybe they're having lunch now. They are probably having Sushi. Now that I'm not with them, they don't have to go have lunch at Raman Shop with me." Hikaru chuckles. His stomach starts grunting.
How Hikaru wants a bowl of Raman.
"Hey, you. What are you doing here? I looked everywhere for you!" Someone says to Hikaru.
TBC…