Echoes of Tokyo - the journey back home to you

3. Forever

The following day, still weary from the long flight and lingering jet lag, Emily's routine was simple: she made quick trips to the local convenience store for onigiri and other ready-to-eat snacks, then spent the rest of her time resting in her small apartment, trying to adjust to the new time zone. As evening set in, she started to feel more awake and decided to venture out and explore her new neighborhood.

After the sun set, Emily left her apartment, eager to stretch her legs and familiarize herself with the area. As she wandered down the street, she came across a small DVD, CD & book rental shop tucked away in a corner. The shop looked quaint and inviting, and Emily decided to step inside, hoping to find something related to Bōzōzoku and delinquency. These were topics she had researched during her undergraduate years and intended to delve deeper into for her master's program.

The interior of the shop was cozy, with shelves crammed full of DVDs, CDs, and books. Emily began to browse, her attention drawn to the various titles and genres. Amid the quiet hum of the shop, she could hear an employee being scolded by his female supervisor. The supervisor's voice was stern, criticizing the young man for not properly sorting the returned DVDs. Despite the commotion, Emily continued her search, but she found nothing that seemed to fit her interests.

She must have looked perplexed and lost, as the previously scolded young employee approached her. He had wavy black hair that looked slightly tousled and wore a blue uniform. "Search...? DVD? Book?" he asked, his words in English coming slowly. "Uhm, yeah, I'm looking for anything related to Bōzōzoku and delinquents. Do you have anything?" Emily responded, trying to clarify her request. The boy, probably around her age, looked at her with a puzzled expression. "You...search...book or DVD?" he repeated, again in broken English. Emily had encountered this kind of situation before; despite her efforts to speak Japanese, many people would respond in broken English.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke louder and slower, enunciating each word carefully. "I'm looking for anything related to Bōzōzoku and delinquents. Do you have anything?". The employee's confusion persisted as he glanced at her, his gaze shifting from her face down to her chest. It was a warm spring evening in early April, and Emily was wearing a fitted shirt that accentuated her silhouette. Feeling self-conscious, she met his gaze and said, "Where are you looking at? Ehm... Hanagaki-san? Are you going to help me now or not?"

The young man's name tag read Takemichi Hanagaki. He seemed to snap out of his daze and shook his head, then responded in Japanese. "Uhm, yeah. Sorry. So, you're looking for...?"

"Anything related to Bōzōzoku and delinquents!" Emily reiterated, her patience wearing thin. Takemichi's expression cleared, and he began to gather a few books and DVDs for her, his previous confusion giving way to a more focused demeanor. After they completed the rental process, Takemichi hesitated before asking, "So, uhm... you like delinquents?"

Emily's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then she smiled. "Yes, I do. I think they're cool!"

Takemichi looked taken aback but smiled in return. "Oh, that's interesting. Well, I hope you find what you're looking for."

With a final nod and a warm smile, Emily thanked him and left the store. The evening air was refreshing, and as she walked back to her apartment, she felt a renewed sense of excitement. Tokyo was full of surprises, and even a simple visit to a local rental shop had turned into an unexpectedly amusing encounter.

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Emily settled onto the small, worn-out bed in her modest Tokyo apartment, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. The documentary about Japan's Bōzōzoku, which she had rented from the local store, was now playing on her laptop. She could hear the soft hum of the DVD player and the occasional crackle from the speakers. The images on the screen showed vintage footage of motorcycle gangs, their elaborate bikes, and the colorful uniforms they wore. Emily's thoughts, however, were far from the content on the screen.