One last chance

Is this the place or are we lost?

"Damn it! I think we are lost", the dashing editor murmured, standing outside the car, his head going right and left watching the deserted road. Even though Sawara is outside Tokyo, which means it's a few hours away, you can easily get lost, especially when you haven't gone to Sawara before. In this case, Kirishima was lost... 2 hours passed since he and Hiyori left their apartment and here they are, standing on a road full of cherry blossoms and some animal such as foxes or cats.

Their trip was fun, chatting about what they are going to do when they arrive in the cottage his parents used to go for vacations and singing j-pop songs the radio was playing, apparently Hiyori's favorite kind of music since she was singing with all her heart and humming when Kirishima was looking at the GPS, concentrating as hard as he could without moving his eyes off the road. Unfortunately, the GPS didn't help much due to the fact that it stopped working after a few kilometers. Because of that, he pulled over on the right side of the road in order not to block the other cars that were supposedly coming.

However, he was the only one taking that road and he understood that when 20 minutes passed and no one was coming. He tried calling his mother for help, but the voicemail came, which meant she was busy either with the neighborhood association or with house chores. When he hung up, he exhaled a frustrated sigh. Yeah, he pretty much believed they were lost.

"Papa?", he turned to see Hiyori exiting the car, with a worried look on her eyes. He tried to master a calm grin, which he successfully did since his daughter didn't seem to be able to make out his nervousness. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah sweety, I'm fine. I'm just trying to see if we are near Sawara"

"Are we perhaps lost?"

"No! Of course not! The GPS stopped working and I went outside the car to watch the road carefully. I remember the instructions your Obaachan gave us and I can't do that while I'm inside"

"Why don't you call her?"

"I did but she didn't answer her phone...Well,maybe I should try something else... ", he murmered the last part to himself and put his hand on his pocket, as if he was searching for something. He remembered he exchanged business cards with Shirakawa-san that day when they met. He tried finding it in order to call him and ask him for instructions. A few seconds passed and found the card inside his wallet in his jacket's pocket. He pulled it and typed the number on his smartphone, pushing then the call button and putting it on his ear.

Unfortunately, he didn't answer because the voicemail came. He sighed, canceled the call and put the phone in his pocket. He combed his hair and then looked at his daughter, who was looking at him with worry.

"Don't worry princess. I'm sure we will find the way to Sawara. Come on, if I remember correctly, there is a small convenience store that we passed  before. I was thinking of buying bentos to eat. What do you say?"

"Hai!!", Hiyori said happily and hopped inside the car, putting her seat belt with a big smile on her lips and sparkling eyes. After giving a small chuckle, he entered inside too, put his seat belt and turned on the machine, turning the car around to go back. After a few minutes, they arrived in the convenience store, hopped outside the car and entered the store, with Hiyori running slightly ahead of her father.

The duo was looking at the corridors and found finally the bentos. They took two of them, along with two bottles of water and went to the cash register in order to pay them. While they were waiting, Kirishima was listening to the man in front of them, talking with the cashier.

"Hello Rotoko-san. It's good to have you here. How is your Cafe in Chiba?". Kirishima wide his eyes at hearing the word Chiba. Sawara was called otherwise Chiba, so it was no doubt  Rotoko-san was living there.

"Hello to you too young lady. Well, it's fine. Our income is increased compared to last year. The costumers are coming more frequently than before. That's why I didn't have time to come here by my own, but once I have someone to take care of Hasu, I took the chance to come here."

"And you did well sir. So, I'm going to bring the usual"

"I'm glad you have it", he said and gave a smile while the cashier left for a second the cash register.

"Excuse me?", Kirishima said and the man turned to see him with that smile

"Oh, hello sir. Do you need something?"

"I'm sorry for the disturbing, but I heard that you are coming from Sawara. Is that true?"

"While yes. I'm coming from there. Why do you ask? Perhaps, you are from there?"

"Actually no. You see, me and my daughter are trying to get there but the GPS stopped working and my new boss in Sawara doesn't respond my call"

"Wait a minute, are you the new chief editor in Shirakawa company?"

"How did you know that?"

"I don't know if you are aware of it, but Sawara is a small town. Everyone knows everything from business to affairs."

"O-oh?!"

"Haha!! I'm sorry, did I scare you? I'm deeply sorry for this, I didn't mean it. It's nice to meet you! My name is Rotoko Shichiro"

"I'm Kirishima Zen. Nice to meet you too", he said and extended his hand, the older man gladly accepting his with both hands and a big smile. The editor couldn't help but watch the man slightly up and down: he had salt and pepper hair with black orbs, some wrinkles decorating his eyes and a small mole on his chin to the right. His clothes were casual and he was wearing leathered grey shoes.

Even though he was an old man, he was exhaling a charming aura, which made the others to open up themselves, as Kirishima did before but telling him they were lost, and of course smiling all the time. Kirishima raised his eyes and then smiled again. "Can you help us get there?"

"Of course, but the problem is I came here with a cub, so I can't get you there on foot"

"No need to worry. We came here with my car, so if you don't mind, we will give you a ride so not to tire yourselves. By the way, this is my daughter Hiyori. Hiyori?", he said and the girl came from behind to see the old man giving her a closed smile with closed eyes. She couldn't help but do the same and then looking at her father." This man is going to help us get in Sawara. He is Rotoko Shichiro"

"It's nice to meet you Rotoko-san! My name is Kirishima Hiyori and I'm 10 years old. Thank you for taking care of me and papa!", she said and bowed to the man, who was looking at her with awe.

"She is so adorable and so polite. Thank you for taking me with you", the man said and gave another smile and a bow to the two of them. When he stopped, the cashier came back and gave his things, who then paid them and waited for the Kirishimas to finish with their shopping. Once they did, they guide Rotoko to the car and hopped inside, starting the machine and driving in the road. Thank God they found someone to help them get there in no time.