Hello to you dear reader!
Disclaimer: I am a French author and I noticed that my story "Une nouvelle vie à Tokyo" is read by americans. I decided to translate my story into English to make it easier for you to understand. However, I don't have the time or the skills to translate my story into English myself. I decided to use a translation software (DeepL) to help me to do it. Thank you for your understanding.
Here is the 1st "real" chapter of the story!
I warn you, there will be notes at the end of this chapter and the following ones concerning clarifications and/or explanations about moments in the story. They will be annotated with numbers that you can refer to at the end.
I wish you a good reading, don't hesitate to leave me a review to tell me what you think of it!
Chapter 1: Settling in Tokyo
"It's perfect, I have all the documents I need. I will give you the keys to your apartment. If you have any problems in the residence, please come back to me, my office is on the 1st floor, and the schedule is posted on the door. Have a nice day Kamado-san!
- Thank you for your welcome Tamayo-san, have a nice day too!
Tanjiro closed the door behind the residence manager. It was time to move into his 18 m2 studio. A decent size for a decent price for this area of the capital. Its proximity to public transportation as well as to the university, which he could reach by bike or even on foot, was the main reason for his choice. Moreover, this apartment was equipped with a kitchen and a personal bathroom and was located on the 6th floor, with elevator, on the park side. Its location allowed him to benefit from a nice light illuminating his living room. He opened the window and could admire the cherry blossoms of the green space in this sweet time of the year that is spring. Spring, the season of going back to school (1), which was 3 days away.
"Well, it's time to get started, my stuff isn't going to put itself away! »
Before that, he took a picture of his empty studio, so as to make a before and after picture that he would send to his family and friends. In particular Inosuke, hating the city, stayed in the landscapes of Hokkaido to pursue his dream of being near the animals and take care of the preservation of the species in the natural reserves of the Nippon territory. Cleaning and tidying up rhymes with music, Tanjiro decided to play it with the portable speaker he had brought from home, a gift from his siblings last year for his 17th birthday. It is true that this year, in about three months, he will be of age (2). He typed on his phone and chose Kenshi Yonezu with the song Flamingo (3) to give himself the necessary energy.
The inventory of the place having been made with Tamayo-san, he didn't miss any dishes: pans, glasses, plates, bowls, utensils, cutlery. He had only brought his personal chopsticks with small tanuki on them, his favorite animal. He also brought some specialties from his home to share with Zenitsu when they would like.
He took the time to put away his clothes in the dressing room provided for this purpose, his toiletries in the bathroom, he had only his futon to prepare and he could move on to the "decoration" of his studio. The word "decoration" was perhaps a little strong to place some photos, a carpet and one or two posters, but only share these few gestures he appropriated at his rhythm his new home. He could, if the need was felt, buy new objects to decorate his habitat, he would have the choice here anyway.
Plunged in his thoughts, he was surprised by the sound of the doorbell filling his apartment. He looked through the peephole and saw his best friend, but also neighbor, at his door.
"Zenitsu! Have you finished settling in yet? He said as he opened the door.
- Tanjiro... You have to help me! I've taken too much stuff and I don't know how to put it all in! cried the young blond man.
- Unfortunately I couldn't do anything more than you... But if you want, we can go shopping in town and see if you could buy a small piece of furniture to put your things in. What do you think? proposed Tanjiro.
- I think it's a good idea... Yes, I will do that! Zenitsu said. We could even go today, it's only 2 o'clock!
- I don't have a problem with that, we would have had to go out and do some shopping anyway. I will finish tidying up and I will be done with my moving in! Said the brown smiling.
- I'll help you, with two it will go faster! "Said the young adult.
After laying out the final elements, namely the carpet at the entrance to her apartment and a frame with a picture of her family on her desk, it was over.
"That's it, we're done! Thanks for your help Zenitsu! Tanjiro exclaimed.
- Yes, I just have three more books to put in your desk drawer and then it will be over. But you need a lot of books for your classes, Zenitsu thought. Then you'll tell me that it's not surprising that you're doing a history degree.
- That's it, unfortunately we have no choice. These are the books and the editions that my teachers asked for. Afterwards, you are also served on your side with your memory psychology books.
- That's not wrong, but I still have a little less than you. Besides, I'm missing a book, you'll have to think about buying it too.
- Since we're done here, and you need a little extra furniture for the rest of your stuff, we could leave now, right?
- That works, let me get my keys and wallet and we're off! »
After leaving the residence, Tanjiro and Zenitsu opted to walk for their purchases, so as to discover their neighborhood at the same time.
"I suggest we go buy your book first, then the groceries and finally the furniture. Since it's the most cumbersome the best thing is to end with that. »
On these words of Tanjiro, the best friends went into the streets of the Tokyo megalopolis, looking for a bookstore.
After several minutes of walking, and having stopped in front of a few shops, one of them called out to them: the bookshop of the perpetrators.
"Wow this is super pretty! " Zenitsu exclaimed as she entered the store.
Indeed, the bookstore was very nice, thought Tanjiro. In a Japanese atmosphere of the Teishô era, books were arranged next to replicas of katana of the time. Kimonos and haoris were displayed on the old wooden tables as decoration, with some objects reminding of that time. Plants dotted the walls as if they wanted to conquer them, with a large choice of books, the smell of the characteristics of the pages aged by time. This place was really singular, just like the bookseller who was wearing a Hyottoko mask (4). He was obviously in full concentration during his reading since even the soft sound of the chimes did not disturb him while the boys entered the store.
"I'll go get the book I need and come back to you afterwards. Take a walk for now," Zenitsu advised him.
- All right, if you need help you know where to find me! »
Tanjiro walked through the shelves, soaking up the atmosphere of this special place. He loved to read, from his childhood when he asked his parents to tell him bedtime stories, to when he did it himself with his siblings born after him. His thoughts echoed softly within him, making him smile. Between Nezuko and Rokuta who preferred stories about princes and princesses, and Takeo and Shigeru who preferred adventure stories, it was a real headache to find the one that would suit everyone at bedtime, but he took up the challenge, to the delight of his siblings.
With these thoughts, he headed to the historical bookshelf to wait for his friend. Given the originality of the bookstore, he would not be surprised to see books that could not be found elsewhere.
As he walked down the aisle, his eyes met the figure of a man in front of the shelf that occupied his thoughts.
"Well, this is the first person I've met since we got here, I even thought we were the only customers with Zenitsu. "Tanjiro thought.
The man, who turned out to be a young man, although a little older than him visibly, was passionate about the book he held in his hands. So much so that the arrival of Tanjiro in the shelf did not cause him any mimicry or trouble on his face. A rather singular face by the way, just like the place where they were. Golden hair on the lengths, ending with red falling in cascade on his shoulders, similar to the descent of the lava on a volcano, the whole attached in half-tail by an elastic behind the head.
"It's okay Tanjiro, I finally bought my book! Zenitsu exclaimed loudly, pulling Tanjiro out of his contemplation. It took me a while because there was one of those choices, I'm not even telling you! It was available in several editions, and I couldn't remember which one I needed! Ah, a real headache I tell you!
- Yes yes, but calm down Zenitsu, whispered Tanjiro. We are in a bookstore and we are not alone. »
His gaze went to the man he had noticed before his friend came, and this time, unlike earlier, his gaze was directed at him.
"His gaze harbors flames. "Tanjiro thought. Yellow, passing through orange and ending in red. He had never seen such eyes in 17, almost 18 years of existence. Passionate eyes accentuated by his eyebrows adding power to his look. But no annoyed feeling seemed to be expressed on his features, maybe only questioning.
"Ho Ho, Tanjiro is calling the Earth, can you hear me? Tanjiro? asked his blond friend.
- Oh dear, sorry I was in my thoughts. Tanjiro apologized with a smile.
- I've noticed, you and history, no sooner are you in a department than you're already in a trance, I swear. Well, we're going to go because we still have to find the groceries and the furniture, is that okay with you?
- Yes, we can go. »
Before finally leaving the aisle of historical books, the young brunette spoke to the young man who was present in the aisle before him, who had already plunged back into his book.
"I am sorry for the inconvenience caused by our loud discussion with my friend. Tanjiro apologized and bowed promptly.
- Don't worry, this is a bookstore! Not a library or a monastery. If I want silence I'll go somewhere else to find it," explained the golden-haired man.
- Very well, said Tanjiro while being reassured. Good afternoon then, he threw to his interlocutor while leaving all smiling.
- To you too," he replied, smiling back at her in an equally enthusiastic manner. »
This smile disturbed the young brown with the crimson reflections. He continued his walk, shaking his sunburst earrings, to join his friend in front of the store.
N.A.: I have neither a degree in history nor in psychology! So I'm sorry in advance if I write some typos related to these fields of study but I will do my best.
(1) As you must know for some of you, but maybe not for all of you, the beginning of the school year in Japan is in spring (in April). Nevertheless, as you will see later, I kept the European LMD system because I live it. It is easier for me to write the curriculum like that :). Moreover, I will add that the university atmosphere will be more "European", less competition and stress than the Japanese universities.
(2) I decided for the purpose of my story to keep the French age of majority, 18 years old and not 20 years old, so our protagonists can do what they want legally! (In reality it has been 18 in Japan for a few years but not fully: no license, alcohol, tobacco etc.)
(3) I think I would do a lot of music propaganda in this story, I listen almost exclusively to Japanese music, I might as well use it! Listen to Kenshi Yonezu, he is a wonderful artist.
(4) It is a Japanese comic character, from the country's folklore, used to make masks. If you have the curiosity to search, you will easily guess who is this atypical bookseller!