Even though it was July, it still rained as usual. The rainy season was forecast to end mid or late into the month.

However, I wasn’t unhappy about it as now was the time for me to earn money. Regular spring examinations would start at the end of the month. Because of that, I would have no time to work a part time job.

Speaking to the Owner about it, he said I could do as I wanted. Well, I still went over once a week……rather, I got scolded to concentrate on my studies.

I wondered if it was all right for him to manage the shop by himself. But because he would probably get angry again if I said that, I just agreed.

 

Two weeks passed without going to work part time.

My study was progressing and I could afford to go out with my friends several times.

I was able to participate in group activities from evening till late and I was glad that I could sleep early as well.

I thought it was a fulfilling campus life, not having to go to the Evening Rain on rainy days. But how to put it, it felt like I was missing something.

 

While reading a book by Shinonome Yohko-sensei, I suddenly remembered. Lately, with all the things going on, I hadn’t sent in a fan letter.

Since I shouldn’t have forgotten this, I decided to find some time to write one.

This time, because the newest publication had been a while ago, the contents of the letter also got very long. Checking that there were no spelling mistakes, I put the letter into an envelope and sealed it. I pasted a stamp that bought onto it and posted it into the postbox. After that, I just prayed that it would reach sensei safely.

 

One week later, the spring examinations started

I was nervous with my first exam. Because I heard that it would affect my university credits, I was even more nervous.

Because the Owner let me take a break from my part time job, I was able to study hard. I encouraged myself that I would be alright as I went for the exam.

 

The five days of exams ended without a hitch. Grading myself, I felt that I did quite well.

I thought about sending a message to the Owner on my smartphone to tell him my exams were over, but since it was a private thing, I hesitated about sending it.

I had informed him about the exam period beforehand. So, without telling him, the Owner should know. While I was closely watching the smartphone screen, Ryoko-chan called out to me.

 

「Oto-chan, how did your exams go?」

「I feel quite good about it.」

「As expected of the person who dropped their part time job.」

「I’ll have to do my best during summer vacation.」

「I know right~.」

 

Ryoko-chan works part time at a karaoke store. One time, I went to inspect her work appearance with my friends, it was fun.

 

「That karaoke store, its dessert menu is quite rich right?」

「They’re hard to make though. If I’m even a little slow, I will get complaints.」

「Uwa, that’s really rough. If I were you, I would be at my wits end.」

「You have it easy, Oto-chan.」

「No, it’s not really easy, rather its leisurely.」

「I feel like it’s easy.」

 

It’s fine whether it’s easy or leisurely, the menu at the Evening Rain is very simple and I can prepare it without difficulty.

Basically, people with no time to spare wouldn’t come to the shop. Even if things took time to prepare, or the delivery of items was slow, most people would just wait with a smile. I was very thankful for my part time job.

 

「That reminds me, it was raining yesterday. So, I decided to study at the Evening Rain and went over there.」

「–Ah!」

「What’s wrong?」

「No, I wish I could have went.」

 

I could have gone to the store as a customer. But during the past month, I had been abstaining from going there even if it was raining at night. I dropped my shoulders.

 

「You should have invited me.」

「Mm.」

「But you know, I was told that I looked hard to approach.」

 

He said I seemed to be all fired up to study for exams. I denied that that was a thing.

 

「Ah, you see, the Evening Rain, I’m worried about the Owner’s customer service.」

「U-Uwa~~」

 

Ryoko-chan narrowed her eyes and put her finger tips against her eyebrows, before speaking with an expression like she was giving an order. The store would never thrive, that was what she said.

 

「So, I thought. In that shop, a poster girl like Oto-chan is absolutely needed.」

「Ah, mm. Thanks.」

 

It seems the Owner was more tired than usual. Maybe he was exhausted from doing unfamiliar work. I was worried.

 

「Today we’re going to wear kimo’s after this.」

「Ryoko-chan, I don’t get your abbreviation.」

「Isn’t it the kimono event today?」

「I know, but.」

「In that case, you should meet him in a kimono. It should be fine, probably.」

「Would meeting the Owner in a kimono really be fine? Well, I wonder about that.」

「I say it will be fine, definitely.」

「In that case, I should bring a gift with me–」

「Oh, that, leave it to me! Because my parents asked me to buy something for them, I’ll buy some for you as well Ot-chan!」

「Eh, is that okay?」

「It’s fine, it’s fine. Because it will be some special confectionery, I think that sour looking owner will definitely be pleased.」

 

Special confectionery! I felt very curious about that.

 

But, it wasn’t going to rain tonight, so I thought the Evening Rain wouldn’t be open. I thought it would be troublesome to go over there.

 

「No, no. You’re not working, you’re inviting him for a date.」

「W-Why!?」

「Isn’t Oto-chan’s unrequited love the Owner?」

「W-Wait a moment, something like that, it’s a bit, unrequited–love?」

 

Previously, in order to hide my part time job from Ryoko-chan, I remembered that I had told her that there was someone I liked. I was surprised that she still remembered that.

 

「Do you like him?」

「Eh, that’s not it.」

「Ever since not going to your part time job, you seem to always sigh on rainy days, you’ve been writing and erasing message to the Owner on your smartphone for a while as well.」

「Uwa, hey, Ryoko-chan, you’ve been looking?」

「I’ve been looking!」

 

Ryoko-chan gradually cornered me.

 

「N-No, it’s different. The person I like……」

 

After that, I couldn’t say any more words.

While I fidgeted unintentionally, Ryoko-chan looked at me with a malicious looking expression.

 

「Oto-chan, if it was before, you would have been able to say it. What does it mean if you can’t say it now~?」

「Ugh!」

「Obediently accept it.」

 

Me and Owner Mukai……

 

「Whether I like him or not, I don’t know.」

 

In other words, I’ve had a hazy feeling for the past month.

 

I realised it now, but I liked the Owner.

 

I thought I felt lonely and unsatisfied because I wanted to work at the Evening Rain. But it was different. I just wanted to see the Owner.

 

「……But, the Owner has an unrequited love himself.」

 

A gentle and beautiful woman. I want to become someone like that one day, a wonderful woman who is admired.

 

「But he’s not dating, right?」

「That’s true, but that email address, it had the name of a woman on it, because it was a Gala phone, maybe he’s always been thinking of her?」

「All right! Oto-chan is definitely better than that person.」

「Haha, thank you.」

 

Sometimes, I think Ryoko-chan is amazing.

She’s positive, takes action and cares for her friends. Normally, other people wouldn’t get so passionate. Though I was a bit annoyed, I was happy.

 

「Can you message him? You have to wear a kimono and invite him to a date. You should appeal to him if you do that.」

「I don’t know if I will appeal to him, but I will message him.」

「Send it now.」

「Yes.」

 

With Ryoko-chan watching me, I messaged the Owner.

 

–Hello, it’s been a while. Would you like to meet up tonight?

 

It was as simple as that.

With trembling hands, I pressed the send button.

 

「Okay!」

 

Ryoko-chan praised my hard work.

It made me feel a bit embarrassed.

 

「Well then, Oto-chan, you go wear your kimono and I’ll go to buy some special wagashi confectionery.」

「Really? Are you okay with that?」

「It’s fine!!」

 

Saying that, she ran away cheerfully.

Watching her as she left, I took a deep breath.

 

◇◇◇

 

Today, I was wearing the kimono that was given to me by my grandmother. It was made from thinner cloth for summer weather.

It was a pale light blue with purple floral patterns drawn on it. The obi was a light green. Overall, it had a cool design. A perfect set for early summer.

 

Everyone showed their kimono patterns to each other and chattered as they put them on before finally finishing with photos.

 

I remembered that I had sent a message to the Owner after the club dispersed.

Even though I had sent it nervously, I was amazed at my own boldness.

 

Looking at my smartphone, there was a message.

I felt excited and my heart was beating rapidly.

I was scared to look at the contents of the reply and unintentionally closed my eyes tightly.

However, I couldn’t do that forever, so I opened my eyes.

The reply from the Owner was–

 

–What time should I pick you up?

 

It was such simple words.

The moment I saw it, I felt joy, relief, tension and various other emotions.

If I looked closely, the Owner seemed to have replied right away.

He seemed to have sent it in a hurry.

After that, I told Ryoko-chan and she told me that the confectioneries were inside my locker.

I went to get them in a hurry.

The confectioneries that Riko-chan bought for me were ones that were rarely sold even in Nagasaki. It seemed they were called “Kangiku”.

 

Since I had some time, I looked it up and found that there was only one shop selling it. In addition, only seven batches were made a year. Most of its sales were by reservation and they would practically never appear in shop.

The Kangiku was made from thin, dried mochi that was roasted and sprinkled with ginger flavoured white sugar before being dried further.

I was surprised to see the manufacturing process on the shop site.

The mochi was only made once a year in the coldest winter months. It would then be dried slowly for one to two months in the cold weather.

Carefully roasting the dried mochi, it was then covered in molasses and dried again before repeating the process several times.

Finally, it was dried for about two weeks. It was a confectionery with a long production process.

 

Ryoko-chan bought me some really special confectionery.

 

I carefully wrapped it in cloth and hugged it tightly.

 

Then, motivating myself, I headed for the meeting place.

 

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