Chapter 6: The Big Question
Monday, February 27, 2017, Afternoon, Yukiko's POV
The interview began winding down, but we couldn't relax just yet.
"I have one final question," Mother said. "As you are aware, Inaba is a small and relatively quiet town with an aging population. It has managed to turn itself around since the incidents just over five years ago, but many students still dream of going to college and finding employment elsewhere."
That sort of mindset was familiar to me, even though my reasons were different than my peers. Most children born in Inaba didn't grow up in family businesses, and for the few who did, there was no guarantee their parents' businesses would last until they were of age to inherit them. I couldn't fault such people for thinking that anywhere had to be better than a town like Inaba, but things had improved since the fog lifted at the end of 2011.
"My question is this," Mother said. "Are you prepared to stay in a town like this to help manage the inn, possibly for the rest of your career?"
Yagami-san, recognizing this question as the same one I'd asked her, took a deep breath before answering.
Thursday, July 7, 2011, After School, Shizuka's POV
Amagi-san brought me to Tatsuhime Shrine once again. The shrine, despite being on the shopping district's main road, was practically deserted. Sometimes, I saw kids catching bugs here, but it was largely empty outside of festivals and other events.
"Sorry to drag you out here again, Yagami-san," Amagi-san said.
"It's fine, Amagi-san," I said. "I actually enjoy coming here."
"Thank you," Amagi-san said. "This won't take too long, but I have two very important things to say to you."
'I'm listening," I said, having recently heard a similar phrase from Hanamura-kun.
Amagi-san then composed herself. I was getting used to these kinds of conversations with my friends, having had one with Hanamura-kun in the recent past, but it was obviously more difficult for them to make such weighty personal confessions than it was for me to hear them.
"Let's start with the easy one," Amagi-san said. "I've decided to stay in Inaba and inherit the inn."
"Good for you," I said. "What caused you to decide that?"
"A few things," Amagi-san said. "I no longer think of becoming the manager as something I have to do, but one of many choices I can make. Out of all the roads before me, I want to walk the path that protects my family, my community, and all those I care about."
I smiled. It was hardly surprising that she chose this path. I think Amagi-san always knew in her heart of hearts that she'd regret leaving Inaba, even if she'd only come to acknowledge it.
"Still, there will be sacrifices to make," Amagi-san said. "I'll have to work hard to learn everything I need to, and even harder once I become manager. Most importantly, I'll have to stay in Inaba for the rest of my career, or at least as long as the inn stays in business. There's no guarantee that the inn will stay open forever, or at even until I'm ready to retire or pass it on, but I'll do everything in my power to ensure that it keeps going as long as possible."
"I know it's not an easy path," I said. "In fact, it's definitely a lot harder than leaving Inaba and getting a job somewhere else in many ways, but it sounds as though you're prepared to overcome the trials and make the sacrifices."
"I am," Amagi-san said. "If I'd just passively gone with the flow, inheriting the inn because that's what my parents expected of me, then it probably would have closed within a year. In order to be an effective manager, I have to want to manage the inn."
"I'm glad you've realized that," I said, "but do you still have your doubts?"
Amagi-san took a deep breath and nodded.
"Working at the inn for the rest of my life will allow me to live in beloved hometown with the people I love," Amagi-san said, "with one exception. If I stay in Inaba, I'll be parted from you, perhaps forever."
Technically, that would happen even if she decided to leave. After all, she had another year of school left, and there was no guarantee we could live together. I would have pointed this out, but there was a more relevant question at hand.
"Wait a minute," I said. "What are you saying...?"
"Quite simply, the second important thing I want to say to you," Amagi-san said. "I'm in love with you, Yagami-san. I want you to be a part of my life."
I paused to process that for a moment and knew why she saw it as the hard part. As the only daughter of the owners of the Amagi Inn, Amagi-san was almost guaranteed to inherit the inn as long as she was worthy, which was barely in question for a hard-working and intelligent girl like her. But my accepting her confession was by no means guaranteed, at least from her perspective. She was now coming to understand the anxiety the people who confessed to her felt- or at least the ones who were serious about it.
"I'm happy to hear you say that," I said, "but I suppose that question deserves an answer, doesn't it?"
"It does," Amagi-san said, "b-but it doesn't have to be n-now."
I decided that there was no use putting things off, but at the same time, I wanted to give my answer the consideration it deserved.
"First things first," I said. "What question am I answering? Staying with Inaba with you for the rest of my life or how I feel about you?"
"The latter," Amagi-san said.
"That's good," I said, "because I honestly can't predict where I'll be in one year, let alone when I graduate from college, so it's irresponsible of me to make promises I can't keep."
"I...I thought so," Amagi-san said. "Is that... a no?"
"I said I couldn't make a promise," I said, "not that I didn't want to. What's more, I haven't answered your question yet."
I took a deep breath and looked Amagi-san in the eye.
"My answer is yes, Amagi-san," I said. "I love you, too."
Amagi-san was overwhelmed with emotion.
"I realize that shared feelings aren't enough to build a relationship on," I said, "and that we'll have no shortage of problems to overcome in the future, but I promise you this- I will do what I can to overcome them, and all I ask is that you do your part, too."
"That's fine by me," Amagi-san said. "I realize I'm asking a lot of you- whether you can love someone who will spend the rest of her life in a town that's only a temporary home for you- you- so the least I can do is put in my share of the effort."
After checking to confirm no one was looking, the two of us shared a kiss, officially starting our relationship, and taking the first step on what we hoped would be a very long and pleasant journey.
Monday, February 27, 2017, Afternoon, Yukiko's POV
"I've had plenty of time to think about this question," Yagami-san said. "When I first arrived in Inaba almost six years ago, I never anticipated that I would spend the rest of my life here. Not because I didn't like the town, but because I knew that I would only be staying temporarily and was discouraged from developing any attachments to Inaba or anyone in it. The fact that many of my peers were desperate to leave Inaba didn't help matters."
Mother nodded, and said, "Fair enough."
"But as I got to know Amagi-san, I was touched by how much she loved this town and her inn," I said. "Remembering those feelings helped her to commit to inheriting the inn, so it was only natural that I would make them my own. I want to follow in her footsteps and support her."
I couldn't help but smile.
"Perhaps some of Inaba's youth still feel as though their town is boring and seek out greener pastures," Yagami-san said, "and in that case, the solution is simple. We do our part to make Inaba a town that the residents can be proud of and happy to live in. Does that answer your question, ma'am?"
"It does," Mother said. "Of course, actions speak louder than words."
I realized that at this point, nothing more Yagami-san had to say could convince Mother, and it was up to her now to decide whether Yagami-san was worthy.
"If I may, Mother?" I said.
"Go ahead, Yukiko," Mother said.
"Thank you very much," I said. "Yagami-san has always been the sort who never makes promises that she can't keep. She knew that being with me would be a difficult prospect, but she was committed to making it work, so while she couldn't guarantee success, she pledged to do her part."
Yagami-san told me that job interviews were about being honest and confident at the same time. If you made empty boasts, you'd get found out sooner or later- "sooner" being during the interview and "later" in the rare case that the hiring managers believed you long enough to hire you- but you had to show that you could do the job.
"Both of us knew that this path would involve sacrifices," I said. "If the best school Yagami-san could hope to get into was in a different prefecture, then we'd have to settle for seeing each other on holidays. If others would look upon us unfavorably for our relationship, then we'd have to keep it away from judgmental eyes. If you want proof that Yagami-san is serious, then don't take her or my word for it, but look back on our actions."
Mother nodded, a soft smile playing across her face. For a moment, I worried I'd only made things worse, but it went as well as I could have hoped for.
"Well said, Yukiko," Mother said. "I think that's all the questions I have for you, Yagami-san. Do you have any questions for us?"
Yagami-san proceeded to ask various questions about the inn, but the big question on our minds- whether she would be hired- would not be answered today. Even if Yagami-san was hired, she would still have to prove herself to my parents and the staff.
Despite knowing all this, I still felt confident and hopeful. The first step in any great journey is not necessarily the most difficult, but if you have the courage to take that step, the wisdom to find the right paths, the determination to follow through, and a trustworthy companion to accompany you, then you'll surely reach your destination, no matter how distant the endpoint or how perilous the journey.
End of Act I
Author's Notes
An intermission will show the results of the interview, and then will lead into the second act.
I've posted some Side stories, such as Shizuka rejecting Yosuke's confession.