Gen'ei Antique Shop

Tale 3 Reunited Lover

The first year of the Showa Era
Downtown Tokyo.

My name is Izanagi Kanai, 24 years old, I work at a restaurant owned by my family. This restaurant is inherited from our great grandfather. Father is the 3rd generation. Actually, my older brother was supposed to take over this restaurant, but he ran away from home 5 years ago because of an argument with father.

My brother really likes calligraphy. He wanted to become a calligraphy artist, as well as calligraphy teacher. But, my father opposed him because he wanted him to continue the restaurant business, because of that, my brother ran away. Father cuts the connection with him, saying that he wasn't his son anymore.

I knew my father was very angry, but he was also very sad. On the other hand, I cheered my brother on, knowing that he stood by what he believed in.

Brother married 2 years ago with the girl in the town where he lives now. They already have 2 sons and works as a calligraphy teacher. He also opened a private class at his house. He lives his life happily.

I think that's a dilemma for father. He may hope that one day my brother will go home and regretting his actions, but on the other hand, my father may also be happy because my brother is living a good life, so he doesn't need to worry about him.

Therefore, now, I'm the only one who can manage this restaurant. Different from brother, I really like cooking. It's nice to cooking something, think about the ingredients, and creating new recipes. I always experiment alone.

Lately, Father and Mother aren't in good health. And now they are starting to worry about me. About what I want to do in the future with our restaurant or when I will get married. Parents always feel worried no matter how old their children are. They always have their own worries.

Of course, I want to get married. But, I doubt I will find a woman who likes me. Father and mother seemed to have given up on arranging a marriage for me.

The girls thought I was boring.
It can't be helped, I tried to do what they wanted, but they still complained. Women are always unpredictable. What they say is always not the same as what they want. And hope I understand what they want.

Come on, I'm not a psychic. How can I read someone's mind? Maybe because the girl I met was a girl from a rich family, they were very selfish. I can't handle them.

If only I met a woman who was not selfish, independent, honest, and sincerity.
People maybe think that I'm naive. You will never find a woman like that.

Forget about that.

A few days ago, my father bought a flower vase from a traveling merchant who happened to stop by our restaurant.

My father really likes antiques. He bought various kinds of objects. But, accidentally, two days ago he dropped the flower vase he had just bought. The flower vase is cracked on several sides.

Strangely, after the incident, every night my father heard a man's painful scream. Either my father only dreamed, but the sound was hearing every night. After searching for a sound source, my father said that the sound came from the vase. Who believed that? My father might be exhausted.

He then told me to throw away this flower vase. But, for some reason, I feel unable to throw it away.

My steps then stopped when I saw a sign, No. 49 Gen'ei antique stores.

"Oh, there's an antique shop here. I don't know I've seen it before," I stepped up to the antique shop, held the handle of the door and opened it slowly,

Cling !!

"Welcome to our shop, dear customer, what can I do for you?"

Cold air immediately pierced my entire body. My body shivered for a while. The shop is quite dark, only a little light enters from outside. I saw a young girl sitting with many books on the table.