Days of Remedy

Part 15

We agree to meet after school at the crossroads near the small shopping mall in the New City area. Even though it has new in the title, almost everything froze in the 60s, and as far as I noticed, most visitors aren't huge fans of concrete and obscure asymmetrical buildings. 

However, if I omit the New City, Kushiki is surprisingly popular with tourists, thanks to the well-preserved Old Town. So, since the temperature outside warms up, I take a slow walk and, for once, enjoy the beautiful architecture everyone talks about.

Warm lights from the street lamps illuminate the wooden houses with curved tile roofs, and the cloth banners hanging on the sides of the souvenir shops glisten in the reflection of the wet stone pathway. Of course, shopkeepers try to attract tourists to warm up with some overpriced hot drinks; however, their luring doesn't work today. Maybe because the winter bites less than the other days, the people rather wander in the streets, lost in the charm of the historical center.

Plants also seem to fight off the cold weather bravely; some places are still overgrown with ivy, though it's withering, and the trees and shrubs in the Old Town's garden comfortably hide under the bamboo poles built with the Yakitsuri technique.

As I cross the bridge, the snow starts to fall, but It melts as soon as it touches the ground. My wet hair frizzes, so I dig through my bag for a hat, frustrated that all the ironing was for nothing, and use a nearby shop window as a mirror to put on my beige beret.

"Is it too much?" I ask myself, worried my outfit is too fancy for a karaoke night. I look at my favorite long plaid skirt and the brown designer fur coat Mum gave me after Dad accidentally bought a smaller size. Then, I remove the beret and smooth the protruding hair: "Let's keep it simple, Kumiko; you don't want to look snobbish, do you?"

Looking around the mall's entrance, the first one I see is Fujino in a yellow beanie, laughing loudly with Hirata. But where is Nakatomi?

Coming closer, I glimpse a short girl in narrow sunglasses snapping pictures of herself next to them. She poses in an oversized 90s racing jacket and checkered wide-leg jeans. Then, as she tries to balance on her platform shoes, Hirata saves her from falling over: "Are you ok, Yua? Should I take the photo?"

She scrolls down her gallery: "No, that's fine; I think I got it!"

However, her phone screen doesn't steal all her attention as she is the first one to spot me: "Hey, Koyama, over here!"

I am still speechless—she looks so unassuming at school, yet now she is rocking this outfit with absolute confidence.

"Look at you! I love your coat," she fires.

I smile politely: "Thank you. The flames on your jacket look very cool; No wonder you wanted to show Fujino."

She turns around, excited to show off more of the flames on the back: "I got it from a vintage shop; It's super unique, right?! I mean, the outfit would look perfect with a chocker, but Mum would kill me."

"I get that; my parents are also a bit strict," I say.

Then Fujino leans on her shoulders: "Let me guess, Yua; you can't wait to take her shopping?"

"Of course, she can't. Our fashion diva here is starved for a partner in crime. Best of luck she won't talk your ear off," Hirata chuckles, warning me.

His outfit is sporty and minimalistic—all black and no accessories, except for a cross-chain earring. Neither Fujino nor he looks like the types who would enjoy going on a shopping spree, so his comment doesn't surprise me.

"Oh, thank you very much for putting in such a good word for me; I truly don't know what I would do without you," Nakatomi says sarcastically and pinches his cheek so his earring jingles.