Shin sat in his bed, wrapped up in blankets that couldn't keep him warm. The weather outside was freezing, but there was a complete lack of progress since he came home affecting him a bit more. In the past week and half, nothing had been accomplished. Over the past few years, Shin had become so used to seeing results from his actions everyday. A few more feet dug for a well, a wall for a house or school assembled, or a few boxes of food delivered. Now he had to wait for those that might be hiring to call, and for the entrance exams to come around. For now, he was stuck right where he was.
His journal lay open on the corner of the bed. The entries varied from language to language, but each written with his elegant script in fountain pen. There were dreams printed in that journal, both from sleeping, and from waking. In Africa he had found what it meant to dream. It was serendipitous to find that ticket, but it was also time to return. He had once said he would go somewhere he had never been, and do things he had never done. But everything he could do in Africa he had done, and now it was time to find something new again.
A bottle of ink lay half drained on a side table. Kuma lived in a two bedroom apartment, and Shin currently occupied the second room. This room was normally for storage. There were a few extra tables, a huge frame from Ami's mother, and general junk that they had no place for. His futon mattress was in a corner underneath the window, and his bag lay against the closet door. He did not mind the cramped space, but he felt he was imposing himself on his good friend.
He always ate breakfast with them, attempting to readjust to the traditional Japanese way of life. But by choice he mostly confined himself to this room. He reached around to the journal again, and began jotting down the notes for the day. It was still before noon, and both Ami and Kuma were out at the ramen shop. The peace was enjoyable, but the extensive time in this room was deteriorating his intellect.
There was a foreign need inside him that he couldn't name. It was writing in the journal today that he intended to uncover that need. The pen dripped onto the paper. Normally that only happened when he couldn't seem to find a voice. The words were all flowing, and yet, he was skirting around whatever it was that was pushing him. Sawada laid the pen down, and looked through this entry. There was a specific reason this was happening. He didn't want to know. His mind was playing tricks, and dodging the issue.
Shin let the ink dry before closing his journal again. When a problem had been bothering him in Africa, he went for a walk. It was below freezing outside, but going for a walk seemed the best therapy regardless. He opened the closet door, and hunted through Kuma's old jackets for one that might fit him. One of the sweatshirts Kuma had worn in high school met Shin's eyes. It looked warm enough, and Shin felt like putting himself through the cold a bit. He needed to get himself acclimated.
He bundled up as best he could, and locked the door behind him, journal in his bag, and the few thousand yen to his name tucked away inside. He wasn't sure of any sort of destination. The goal was just to get back into the world here. His skin was becoming paler, as it had been before he left, and he no longer received the sharp looks he had when he first arrived.
To most of the passerby's, Shin now resembled a normal young Japanese man. His hair was the solid black, and everything that had made him somewhat fearsome in his teenage years had vanished. The streets were not overly busy, most people sticking to their destinations in favor of wandering from place to place. Though it was freezing, there was a kind of warmth bouncing between the buildings. This was an old energy, something that refilled Shin's reserves in a way that nothing else could.
The streets passed slowly. There was no particular direction he wanted to go, only to explore. He could see his breath, looking like smoke from a fire. There were fond memories emerging from his past. He wandered, eventually coming along the river of his high school years. The strange slope down to the canal, bridges dotting the length. He dipped his fingers into the water and took a deep breath. The hill supported his weight as Shin lay back, looking up at the sky.
Though he thought he would be happy to stay away from Japan, there was something in all these things he had seen that told him, home would always be Japan. Going 10,000 miles away had only taught him to appreciate more what he had always had. His eyes closed and he rested, the sun poking out from the clouds just enough to keep him warm. A daily nap was still a precious commodity for Shin, but he did not fall completely into slumber. Though he was not freezing, it was still not comfortable enough for sleep.
In his journal, he sketched a small picture of this spot, using the ink to show the vibrancy of the grass, and the muted blue-gray of the water. Underneath he made a few notes about the place he found himself. The sky above was turning a darker slate, sun fading in and out between the last few gaps in the clouds. Africa had offered no snow, but Shin still remembered the taste of the air right before it began. It was touching his taste buds at that moment.
Realizing being caught in the snow would be unwise, Shin resumed his wanderings. It had been many hours since breakfast, and he was becoming hungry. He knew what sounded good, but he wondered whether they would be open in this weather. It was only a simple stand. He wandered toward the old temple and the park that the stand always occupied.
There were only a few takoyaki still on the warmers, enough for his order, and it looked as if Minoru and Tetsu were preparing to close up. Shin approached slowly, eyeing the two men. Tetsu had re-grown his mustache, and Minoru looked a few pounds heavier, but otherwise they still wore their brightly colored and vaguely Yakuza clothing.
It was Tetsu who first noticed the figure approaching them. Tetsu furrowed his eyebrows, finding it strange that a man was advancing toward their shop, eyeing both of them. He tapped Minoru on the shoulder and pointed towards Shin. Minoru looked up sluggishly, and squinted at the younger man. The gears turned slowly, connecting the face through his memory. "Sawada!" He yelled, surprised at the sudden appearance of their Ojou's first favorite student. He jogged up toward the young man, and pulled him into a hug. "You aren't in Africa anymore? Why haven't you visited us sooner?"
Sawada ran his hand though his hair when Minoru finally released him. Minoru held Shin's arms and considered pulling him back in for another hug, but Tetsu smacked him in the head, and Minoru released Sawada, bowing quickly. "Excuse me, we have just been wondering about you." Tetsu's face was slightly distorted, reasoning out that this was indeed Sawada Shin, and that for some reason he was back from Africa. For what reason; was this a threat to his love of Ojou?
The takoyaki were still sitting on the warming plate, and Sawada pointed toward them. "You won't mind parting with those?" Minoru rushed around the stand, and loaded a tray with all the remaining pieces. They looked slightly over cooked, and Sawada noted their less flavorful nature, but it was still the old familiar takoyaki. He sat down on the stone bench beside the stand, and pushed his hands into his pockets, finishing off the last of the octopus balls, and figuring out what his next best destination would be.
Tetsu busily closed up the stand, turning off the hot plates, bundling their flags and ensuring that their stand would be in the same place the next day. Minoru sat beside Sawada and went over the recent events in the Oedo family. Shin was happy to learn that Kumiko's grandfather was still doing well.
"Hey Tetsu!" Minoru called out to his associate, "What about having Shin over for dinner!" Tetsu smacked Minoru in the head again. As almost always, Minoru had no idea why he was being hit, but he immediately apologized again.
"I'm sure that Sawada would not want to come to dinner when he just ate, not to mention I'm sure his schedule is full." On the other side, Sawada hadn't even told Ojou he was back, or else she surely would have mentioned it, and Tetsu didn't feel like having a threat around the house. But if Ojou found out that Sawada had visited them, and they had not extended an open invitation, Ojou would punish them severely. Tetsu definitely didn't want that punishment. After all, Minoru was bound to let something slip. "But of course, we have to have you over at least to say hello!"
Shin smiled to himself. Tetsu obviously did not want Shin gracing their presence, but Shin was also a bit concerned. Kumiko would certainly not be happy to know he had been back for any period of time, and not come to visit already. He would receive his own comeuppance, much to Tetsu's joy. There was no choice but to accept their invitation, both in terms of self preservation and to be tactful.
The clouds rolled overhead, a colder breeze blowing now. The sweat shirt Shin had been wearing for the day was no longer keeping the freeze out, so it was either go now, or flee back to Kuma's. But it was never Shin's style to flee, so he nodded toward Tetsu. "You don't suppose we can go quickly, I'm getting very cold now." Minoru made sure everything was ready to go, and they were on their way.
Shin helped carry a few of the bags, hoping the mile to the Oedo house went quickly. The street lights were glowing as they passed into the area where everyone called Kumiko Ojou. They nodded to Tetsu and Minoru as the men passed by, puzzling about the third man with them. Perhaps another recruit, but it was of no consequence. Minoru talked the whole way back about the same things they had talked about early, and eventually he began repeating himself. But Shin didn't mind, the large man's voice was a kind of comfort.
The traditional gate met his eyes down a stone street, and the dark wood grooves looked more weathered than the first time he had seen them. The vestiges from their family's past dotted the grounds: traditional gardens, weathered stone, and Shinto relics. He removed his shoes once inside the wooden entrance. The guest slippers were laid out in a small cabinet, and Shin looked for the ones he normally wore when he visited long before. To his surprise they were still there, some more wear and tear on the soles, but still as comfortable as ever. He slid them on, and listened as Minoru and Tetsu announced their arrival.
From deep inside the house, Shin heard Kumiko's grandfather welcome them home. For being a Yakuza household, everyone was very nice. Tetsu collected the items from the stall, and stored them in the entryway before stepping inside the house, and continuing around the corner. Shin followed behind, wondering where Kumiko was and how much longer until her assault. Kuroda Ryuichiro sat alone in their family room, casually watching TV and reading a paper. He looked up, glasses resting across the bridge of his nose.
"Well if it isn't Sawada Shin!" He stood up and extended a friendly hand and bow to the young man who had often graced their halls while still in high school. "We had no idea you were around. The last I heard Kumiko said you were in Africa." He returned to his seated position, though a bit more formal, turning the TV off.
Sawada took a seat across from him, a cushion sitting out in the open. "I only came back a week ago… I wasn't sure when would be a good time to visit Kumiko." Kuroda noted his use of her given name, and not Yankumi. On some level, he had always known of Shin's affections, after all, how many students showed up on occasion to check on their teacher. It had always made Kumiko happy to know that the students cared for her, but the girl was dense and never knew the real reason he visited.
Kuroda never said anything on the subject, feeling his granddaughter's love life best left in her own hands, despite her lack of success. She was talking of Shinohara again, and Kuroda took that for a good sign, despite the awkward strain it would put on the Oedo family business. He passed Shin a glass from the cupboard and filled it with sake. "I'm sure it feels nice to legally drink this. But I'm sure you've been able to legally drink for the past 4 years where you have been."
Shin nodded his head, but it did feel good to be legal in Japan, even if he didn't indulge very often. The sake was room temperature and of a very high quality, going down smoothly. He placed the cup down on the mats and bowed to Kuroda. "Thank you very much, Kuroda." The man before him had always extended a kind hand to Shin, which was greatly appreciated when he was in need.
"Will you be interested in staying for dinner Shin? I would like to set another place out for you." Shin nodded, knowing that it would be the worst manners not to say. But even more than that, he wanted to enjoy dinner with a family that protected him. Kuroda instructed Tetsu to put up another setting. They talked quietly together for a few minutes, Kuroda asking many questions about Africa and Shin's time there. Sawada answered each politely, and the conversation led onwards to new topics.
Shin wondered where Kumiko was for her not to have shown herself yet. Kuroda sensed the wonder in Shin's mind. "Kumiko is in the bath, and afterwards we will sit down for hot pot." That made Shin smile. Hot pot was always a favorite, and the spirits all needed a bit of warmth. Kuroda began sharing a few details of the family business and on Kumiko and her recent endeavors at Kurogin.
It was at this time that sounds began coming from the hallways. The other members of the household were gathering in the dining table. Kumiko peered into family room, smiling at her grandfather, hardly noticing he had a visitor. Kuroda smiled at her, "We'll be there in a moment Kumiko."
"We're having a guest today granddad?" It was not often that Kuroda brought someone to dinner. She glanced over to the man sitting across from her grandfather, and nearly fainted.