'My name is Amano Hina. The heaven field, sunshine and vegetables. That's why I am Hare-Ona!' She stretched up, her arms spread out.
In the distance, without a break, foggy rain blanketed the tall buildings which pressed against wall-to-wall. The spot they stood at was bathed in the sunlight.
'How old are you?' Hodaka wanted to know her more.
'I...am eighteen. You?'
So she was older than him. Of course, she was working at MacDonald's.
'I am sixteen. Thank you for giving me a hamburger. I'll pay money back someday. I found a job.' He wished Suga would pay only a five hundred coin a day. Looking at her pretty face, he wanted to talk more with her, 'Day-off?'
'I quit the job.' She had a worried look on her face for a moment.
He was sorry about it, 'because you gave me the hamburger? Did they find it out?'
'No, it's alright. Oh, Nagi is waiting for me.' She walked away, turned to him, 'Do you still live in the Internet Cafe?'
How did she notice that? 'No, not now.'
'Good. If you needed to live there, I was going to ask you to share my house.'
He imagined something he shouldn't, his face suffused the color of tomato.
Hina giggled, 'What do you fantasy about? Come on, I'll introduce my brother to you.'
Oddly enough, the rain had let up where they walked. Seeing her back, he wished the moment would continue forever. The feeling was new. He didn't know how to describe it. They went up the slope and reached a two-room flat.
She unlocked the door, 'Nagi, are you at home? Not yet. He's coming soon. I'll prepare a meal. Sit there.'
Hodaka was mesmerized by her hands. They handled a pair of scissors, snipped bean sprouts. They fried rice in short order and cracked eggs. As a finishing touch, she sprinkled the cut sprouts and potato chips.
'Potato chips?'
'Belive me, it's delicious.' Her face was bright as sunshine.
He followed as she mixed the egg on the top of rice with a spoon and tasted it. It was good!