‘Since your commuter pass allows you to get off here and get back on for Hanshin-Kokudo, how about it? If you have time, that is. I found something that’s kind of bizarre near this station.’
‘I have time!’
Did Miho-chan take the bait out of curiosity or did she also want to put off saying goodbye? Kei’ichi hoped it was the latter.
‘Look, over there.’
Outside the ticket gate, there was a curved, covered passage connecting the station to the shopping arcade, which stood directly opposite. Midway along the passageway, Kei’ichi stopped beside the handrail and pointed at the roof of a plain white building that was visible from that spot. Miho-chan leaned over the railing to see what he was pointing at.
‘Wow!?’
‘Kind of unexpected, right?’
On the roof of what at first glance seemed like a nondescript building, there was a bright red torii gate, just like the ones that mark the entrance to a Shinto shrine.
‘Huh … what’s a torii doing up there? Do you think they built a garden or something on the roof?’
‘But even if there’s some sort of fence you still can’t see any plants or anything. If there was a garden, don’t you think there’d be some greenery visible?’
‘Well, maybe the owner of the building is a super religious person, or maybe the land it was on used to be a shrine so when they bought it they moved the torii to the roof …? Oh, I’d really like to know!’ Miho-chan was utterly intrigued. Then she gazed up at Kei’ichi with a serious look. ‘I’ve got an idea! Maybe one day we can go investigate that building? It’s super close!’
‘… you’re bolder than I thought, Miho-chan.’
Kei’ichi had been somewhat taken aback by her suggestion and when he blurted this out, Miho-chan dropped her eyes, seeming a little embarrassed.
‘I wouldn’t dare to do it if I were on my own but if you were there with me, Kosaka-kun, I think I’d have the nerve.’
‘Oh, you’re counting on me?’
Miho-chan bowed her head, as if to apologize. But she persisted: ‘Though if you were willing, maybe we could do that some time?’
Luckily, he found her persistence amusing.
‘I’m not very relaxed with people I don’t know and don’t have much courage, so the best I could offer is just to go along with you.’
‘Yeah, so long as someone is with me, I’d definitely be up for it. That’s all I’m asking, that you come along.’
‘OK, so, one day then.’ He wondered if, when that day came, she’d really have the nerve to go through with it. ‘So, then, what would you say is the most special thing for today?’
Miho-chan leaned against the handrail to ponder.
‘I don’t know – the helicopters were amazing but the torii is pretty cool too … hmm.’ She seemed vexed by the question. ‘I can’t decide – today there might have to be two things.’
‘Well then, as a reward for upping your daily quota …’
Kei’ichi got a little tongue-tied. It was the first time he’d ever said anything like this to a girl. He willed himself not to choke.
‘Would it be OK for us to exchange phone numbers?’
It was as if he could see Miho-chan’s cheeks go up in flames. She raised her hands as if to hide them from view.
‘Oh, I hate how self-conscious I am! I’m sorry, I’m not used to talking to guys. I know this is no big deal but I get so nervous. Friends – we can just be friends, I know that’s what you mean, right? Of course we can!’
‘There’s nothing wrong with being friends. But I might like to be more than friends, instead.’
This time Miho-chan froze.
‘Uh … when you say, more than friends …’
‘That would be my special thing for today.’
‘Er, but even on a group date, nobody’s ever even asked for my number.’
‘I bet nobody can tell how clever you are on a group date. Because you’re too nervous and you hardly say anything, right?’ Kei’ichi spoke from experience.
‘Neither of us has any experience, so in that sense we’re well matched, right? So we wouldn’t be biting off more than we can chew either. It’s been clear from the start that neither of us knows a thing!’
Miho-chan, still red as an octopus, was muttering to herself under her breath, but then she bowed and said, ‘I’d like that very much.’
Kei’ichi responded with, ‘It would be my pleasure.’ It was a very polite beginning – though to what, exactly, neither of them knew.
‘Maybe we can find somewhere to sit, so we can exchange numbers.’
‘Oh! I know a place!’ Miho exclaimed. ‘There’s a food court in the shopping arcade, and my aunt says that there’s a stall where they sell delicious takoyaki.’
Kei’ichi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.