‘Might be that Sakasegawa is close to the Takarazuka theatre? I guess a lot of fans want to live there too. I had a real estate broker looking for me, but they said the only places available were just for women or were family-oriented.’
‘Is that so? The town hall is there too, so I guess it’s a pretty convenient location.’
The train began to slow, and she stood up from her seat.
‘I’m gonna get myself a beer on the way home today. In support of your theory. It’s the most fun version, right?’ he said.
She had been heading for the doors but she turned back towards him.
‘The next time we meet, we should have a drink. I prefer beer in a glass mug, rather than in a can.’
As far as she was concerned, he was just a stranger she’d struck up a conversation with about some charming graffiti.
‘The central library. You go there a lot, don’t you? So then, next time we meet.’
He was speechless – at that moment the train stopped and the doors opened, and with a spring in her step, she alighted from the train.
She headed for the staircase, rather than use the escalator, that bag on her shoulder with the mouse, its mouth open in a gaping smile.
As Masashi watched it swaying awkwardly, his hands reflexively popped up to cover his mouth.
Today’s Saturday. Nothing special lined up, just a regular old boring afternoon.
He’d thought that he was the only one aware of their chance encounters.
When? And where?
He had the sudden urge to run off the train to find out why she had been the one to home in on him.
If she wanted to drink beer out of a glass, then why not today?!
Masashi got up from his seat and leapt onto the platform.
The mouse with the full-face smile was only halfway up the long staircase. Masashi started up the stairs, taking them two at a time to catch up with her.
Takarazuka-Minamiguchi Station
Takarazuka-Minamiguchi is a run-down train station, in dire need of renovation.
Whereas its neighbouring stations on either side – Takarazuka and Sakasegawa, and for that matter all the other stations along the same line – have a bustling and lively vibe, Takarazuka-Minamiguchi seems to be the only one left behind in that wave of development.
There is a two-storey shopping mall that, up until some years ago, had still been sparsely populated by ramshackle shops, but after the few that were left had been evicted in advance of these renovation plans, no progress has been made.
The only attraction there is perhaps the Takarazuka Hotel. It’s said that, for fans of the Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theatre troupe, there’s an excellent chance of spotting one of their stars at this prestigious hotel.
As Shoko boarded the Nishi-Kita-bound train after it had slid into the platform, the clicking of her heels seemed to resonate intimidatingly. The train car wasn’t crowded but almost all the seats were taken, so, in her white dress, Shoko was hovering near the door. If she squeezed into one of the available seats, she would crease the skirt of her dress that had cost her a pretty yen.
Carelessly, she allowed a bag stamped with the emblem of the Takarazuka Hotel – no doubt containing a wedding favour – to drop by her feet. What did she care how fragile whatever was inside might be? After all, if she’d been happy to receive the favour, she wouldn’t have attended the occasion dressed all in white.
She would never forget the look on the bride’s face when she laid eyes on Shoko wearing what might as well have been a wedding dress. Yes, she would tuck that memory away in a corner of her heart.
White was the bride’s colour – guests knew better than to wear it. That was the most basic rule of the dress code for weddings. Shoko’s hair was even done up and adorned with white accessories. From the moment she arrived at the reception and signed the registry book, the other guests had been giving her looks and rolling their eyes.
She had to laugh, no?
Recalling the look on their faces, the corners of Shoko’s mouth turned up in a smile.
They had worked at the same company for five years. She had started to date the groom six months after they began working together. The company had sanctioned their relationship so they were publicly a couple, and once they were into their third year, everyone at the office had thought that it wouldn’t be long before Shoko and the groom got married.
The bride joined the company at the same time and had also been a friend. Past tense, of course – though there’s no way for Shoko to know just when that became so.