Chapter 44: An Oversweet Mochi
"Want some crepes?"
Chishima Akishin pointed toward a small roadside stall. Inside sat an elderly woman with silver hair, dressed in a traditional gofuku. A steady stream of young people and children were lined up to get their fix.
Shizuka stared at the shop. As the sweet fragrance wafted past her nose, her mouth watered involuntarily. She gave a small nod. "Sure."
"Alright, wait here."
Akishin's voice was uncharacteristically soft. He went to the stall, purchased two servings, and returned to hand one to Shizuka.
She took it, her eyes widening at the sight of the layers of whipped cream, strawberries, and red bean paste piled on top. She didn't hesitate to take a bite.
"So sweet... it's delicious..."
As the sugar hit her tongue, Shizuka's eyes narrowed reflexively in bliss. She might have a reputation for loving ramen and spicy food, but at the end of the day, she was still a woman who appreciated sweets. It was just a side of herself she rarely indulged in as she got older.
Akishin watched her enjoy the food for a moment before looking down at his own crepe.
The outer layer was a thin pancake rolled into a cone, resembling an ice cream scoop. The top was decorated with cream and strawberries, but beneath that layer lay a dollop of mayonnaise. He had watched the old woman tuck other ingredients further down: slices of ham, mochi, sakura shrimp, corn kernels, and even bonito flakes (katsuobushi).
It was a massive portion.
In a way, it reminded him of the jianbing guozi from China, just with a very different set of fillings.
Akishin took a large bite. First came the crispy, savory flavor of the perfectly cooked pancake, followed by the eclectic mix of cream, fruit, and ham. Surprisingly, the flavors didn't clash. Within the confines of that pancake, every ingredient seemed to find its own voice.
"This really is good."
The praise came naturally. If he were to make this himself, he'd probably reach this level at best, or perhaps still fall short of the old woman's experience. Then again, he had never actually made a crepe. He made a mental note to try it out on a flat pan back in his kitchen.
Akishin glanced at Shizuka again. Noticing a stray bit of cream at the corner of her mouth, he reached out with a tissue and gently wiped it away.
"Let's keep moving," he said casually. "This district seems to have a lot to offer."
Shizuka's face went a vivid shade of crimson. She opened her mouth to say something, but seeing Akishin already scanning the street for the next food stop with such serious intensity, the words died in her throat.
...Did I just misread the situation?
Slightly annoyed at her own reaction, Hiratsuka Shizuka followed along as they ventured deeper into the shopping street.
Akishin stole a glance back and gave himself a silent pat on the back.
The crepes were soon finished. Next came Takoyaki. After checking with Shizuka, he bought a tray of those too...
They wandered the street, grazing on various snacks until they realized they were actually full, despite not having a "formal" lunch. Akishin found himself enjoying the food just as much as Shizuka; it was his first time truly experiencing Japanese street food culture.
Shizuka's face maintained a faint, lingering blush. If you weren't looking closely, you'd miss it. As she watched the figure walking less than thirty centimeters ahead of her, a familiar sensation washed over her—something she hadn't felt in years.
Once, a long time ago, she had walked a street like this with a man whose name and face had long since blurred into obscurity. They had been even closer then. Perhaps that was why she felt this strange mix of reluctance and fear.
"Alright, now that our stomachs are full, let's head to the beach!" Shizuka said, her fingers tightening around the can of coffee in her hand.
Akishin turned his head. He sensed a shift in Shizuka—something was different, yet nothing had changed. He chose not to pry. Instead, he pointed to a mochi shop ahead. "Okay. Let me just grab some mochi first. Shizuka-chan, do you want any?"
"No, I'm fine." Shizuka shook her head, avoiding his gaze. "I'll wait for you outside."
The answers that can't be found through calculation are human emotions.
She couldn't remember where she'd heard that phrase—or perhaps she had simply conjured it herself during a lonely night. Regardless, she was beginning to feel the weight of those words.
Akishin's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. He nodded. "Alright. Just wait a moment, I'll be right out."
This time, Shizuka didn't react to the 'Shizuka-chan' honorific. She just nodded. The smile on Akishin's face slowly faded. He looked at her deeply for a moment before stepping into the mochi shop.
Inside, glass cabinets were filled with various types of mochi. An elderly man with a white headband sat behind the counter. Noticing Akishin, the man looked up warmly. "Welcome! Looking for some mochi, young man?"
Akishin forced a smile. "Yes. They look delicious."
"Haha, you have good eyes!" The old man laughed, then called out to the back, "Tamako! Come out and help the customer!"
"Coming!"
A melodic voice responded, and a girl around seventeen or eighteen came running out from the back.
"Which ones would you like?"
The girl, Tamako, offered him a bright, sweet smile.
"This one, this one... and these two. Give me five of each."
Akishin pointed out his selections. The girl packaged them with practiced speed and handed them over with a grin.
Akishin took the paper bag and stepped out of the shop, with Tamako's "Please come again!" echoing behind him.
He looked at Shizuka. She was still standing in the exact same spot, clutching that coffee he had once teased for being too bitter. Despite the crowd surrounding her, she looked isolated—a perfect embodiment of the phrase 'the crowd belongs to others.'
Akishin opened the bag, pulled out a piece of red bean paste mochi—which looked more like a sweet rice ball—and walked right up to her. She didn't even notice him until he suddenly spoke:
"Hey, what are you overthinking for? Open up. Say 'ahh'~"
Startled, Shizuka reflexively opened her mouth. Akishin expertly popped the mochi inside.
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "!!!"
"Chishima Akishin... Akishin, you... what do you think you're—is this... is this mochi?"
"My treat," Akishin said, feigning a bit of annoyance. "Shizuka-chan, it's rude to daydream when you're supposed to be hanging out with me."
"...Um, sorry." Shizuka swallowed the mochi. After a few seconds of hesitation, she offered a genuine apology.
"..."
Akishin's expression suddenly went flat. "Let's go to the beach. Maybe we'll catch the sunset over the water."
"Ah! Right."
Shizuka looked up at Akishin as he turned to walk away, his voice sounding a bit more monotone than usual. She bit her lip and followed quietly behind him.
They arrived at the Chiba City shoreline at 3:00 PM, delayed slightly by traffic. It was a very ordinary, public beach. No bikinis, no fancy seaside hotels, no rows of lounge chairs.
Feeling the cool sea breeze and watching the sparkling water, Akishin bought a picnic cloth and a heap of snacks. He sat down on the sand with Shizuka, both of them staring out at the ocean.
Shizuka sat with her knees hugged to her chest, her long black hair dancing in the wind. She looked toward the horizon and suddenly asked without turning her head, "Chishima-kun... um... do you... do you ever feel lost?"
Akishin, busy munching on a snack, glanced at her. "Why the sudden question? Are you feeling lost, Shizuka-chan?"
"...No. I just wanted to ask."
"Lost, huh?"
Akishin gave it some serious thought, then smiled. "I don't get lost. I'm a swordsman. I cut through whatever obstacles are in front of me and walk the path my heart dictates. If—and I mean if—you ever see me looking lost, I'm not. I'm just tired and want to rest for a bit, or I've stopped to figure out the best way to take the next step."
Shizuka's eyes widened slightly, and she finally turned to look at him.
Akishin was holding out the bag of mochi toward her, a gentle smile on his face. "Want some? It's really sweet."
Under the glow of the setting sun, Akishin's features seemed to soften, blurring slightly against the golden light.
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