Gen'ei Antique Shop

Tale 12 Unexpected Meeting

The first year of the Showa Era
Downtown Tokyo.

"Sir, are you sure there is an antique shop in this town? I have been around and asked, but nobody knows about antique shops,"

My name is Uchiyama Osamu. My mother is currently lying sick. The doctor said it was because she was old. I was really worried about her condition.

"But, mother said, we have to bring these things to an antique shop in this town," I said, my driver, Yamakawa, had been around but had not found the antique shop.

"Is it possible, the shop no longer exists?" Yamakawa said.

I sighed, "I can't go back saying we didn't find the antique shop. Mother condition can get worse. Let's find out again," I said as I continued walking around, "Ah! Excuse me," I greeted a man who out of a restaurant.

"Yes?" The man glanced at me confusedly

"I'm looking for an antique shop. But, I haven't been able to find it. Do you know if there's an antique store in this town?" I asked him.

"Oh, you are going the wrong way," the man said, "Let me take you there,"

"Eh? Do you know the place?" Yamakawa asked.

"Well ... you can say that," the man smiled.

"Thank God," I sighed with relief.

We walk down to the narrow back alley in a certain downtown area.

"Is this antique shop you're looking for?" The man asked.

I turned and looked at an old shop with the sign No. 49 Ren'ei antique stores.

"I...don't know...I'm just looking for an antique shop, if indeed this is the only one in this town, then surely this is the shop," I felt relieved after finding the shop.

"Thank God if you can see the shop," the young man said, stepping closer to the store, "The shopkeeper said, only those who destined can enter the shop,"

"Eh? What do you mean?" Yamakawa looked confused.

CLING !!!

The man opened the door and we followed him inside. Cold air pierced my whole body. The shop looks dark even though the sun shines very brightly outside.

"Welcome to our shop, dear customers, what can you do for you ... oh ... Ito-san?"

I glanced at the voice and saw a girl sitting in front of so many books.

"Aki-san, good afternoon, sorry for bothering you?" the man said.

"Oh of course not. I've been waiting, it's just that I didn't expect you to come too," the girl smiled.

Eh? What does it mean?

"You said that you were waiting?" Yamakawa asked, "Does that mean you already know we're coming?"

"I always wait for customers every day," the girl smiled, "What can I do for you?"

I stared at the girl for a moment, then stepped closer to her, "My mother, wants to give this thing to you," I put a long box on the table in front of the girl, her name is Aki if I don't hear wrong.

The girl smiled while taking the box, "How is your mother condition?" she asked while opening the wooden box slowly.

Yamakawa and I looked at each other. How can this girl find out?

"My mother was in a weak condition because of her age. Because of that, I wanted to do everything she wanted. She said to hand this thing to an antique shop, someone had been waiting for this thing since a long time ago, "I said.