I asked a senior to borrow a kimono to match my bag. I was going to a flea market on Sunday, so I had brought it with me. It had a lovely traditional Japanese pattern and I had packed the minimum necessary items such as my smartphone, purse and a handkerchief.

When everyone found out I was going on a date, they all helped me put on makeup. I usually only put on a light layer of makeup, so I looked more mature than usual in the mirror. I hope this doesn’t cause any discomfort when walking with the Owner.

Walking down the steep stairs to the main gate with careful steps, I went down the gentle hill past the gate.

The Owner’s car was stopped a short distance ahead.

I wanted to rush over, but I thought that I shouldn’t overdo it since I was wearing sandals and walked over slowly.

I looked through the windows and called out to the Owner. He looked at me with a surprised face.

His reaction was quite interesting, he quickly prompted with his hand for me to get in.

Getting into the front passenger seat, I put on my seat belt.

When I was ready, the car started slowly.

 

「Why are you wearing a kimono……?」

「Today I had a club activity on how to wear kimonos and it is a rare chance to wear one.」

「……」

 

The Owner showed no interest in the kimono.

Who was it? The one who said that adult men were weak to women in kimonos.

Well, that might have been a case of words from the wearer.

I felt like I wanted to ask ‘Is it strange?’. But because I felt it would end with the reply of a single ‘Well’, I stopped myself.

 

Still, I wonder. Whenever I meet the Owner, it’s always a rainy night.

Because of that, the situation of driving on a day that wasn’t raining was quite rare.

 

I was grateful that and adult man would be willing to accept the invitation of a young maiden, I put my hands together in my heart and thanked him.

 

「–So, what business do you have today?」

「Ah, yes. I wanted to go on a date.」

 

The Owner suddenly froze when he heard my words.

When I told him the traffic light was green, the car slowly started.

 

Then, the Owner was silent.

Did I annoy him?

But he’s an honest person, so if that were the case, he would have turned it down by email.

 

As for today’s invitation, I can only describe it as a date.

Should I have just said I wanted to see the Owner’s face? I would feel more embarrassed.

 

The Owner’s crush, the beautiful publisher onee-san, Yohko-san, there was nothing I was better than her at. Because of that, I had no choice but to go for a breakthrough.

 

「Do you–」

「Yes.」

 

The atmosphere was a bit heavy and the car drove along with an awkward feeling.

When I thought that he was finally going to speak with me, he asked in a low voice. Did I always invite men like this?

 

「City women are scary.」

「No way! It’s my first time.」

「Then you’re actually not used to this? You seem to be quite relaxed about it.」

 

I’m not used to it.

To tell the truth, the Owner gave off a similar feeling to my older brother who was about the same age as him.

 

「I’m sorry, you have a similar feeling to my older brother……」

「Older brother……?」

「Yes. I used to go to barbecues and swimming pools to play with them」

「Swimming pools?」

「I also went to the beach.」

「With your brother?」

「Yes, with my younger sister and younger brother as well, the four of us.」

「Ahh, your siblings.」

 

Silence again.

But the heavy atmosphere was gone.

I enjoyed a quiet drive while watching Nagasaki’s city nightscape.

 

◇◇◇

 

The Owner brought me to a Chinese restaurant up on a hill.

It seems to a specialty store for Champon and Sara Udon dishes.

Actually, I’m very happy because I had never eaten them since coming to Nagasaki.

Once, I invited my friends out to eat and was almost taken to a chain store that could be found all over the country.

Why would I eat Champon from a Tokyo store after coming to Nagasaki? No, the Champon was delicious. But, I was in Nagasaki, so I wanted to eat something that I could only eat here.

I asserted that quite intensely, but I was told ‘Most Nagasaki people don’t go to the specialty stores to eat. Most just make it at home.’ in a somewhat tired way. It seems most of the ingredients for it are sold at supermarkets.

 

That said, I really wanted to taste the authentic Champon instead of making it myself.

 

「I really wanted to try eating authentic Champon at least once.」

「I see.」

 

The Owner responded very calmly.

The building was quite old and it was a long established store that had started business in the Meiji era.

It seemed to be a hidden store.

The store was very busy at night. A few people were lined up in front of it.

 

After a while, a waiter guided us to our seat.

I looked at the menu and wondered what to choose.

 

I should go for the original Champon.

However, the Sara Udon is also hard to give up.

There are two types of Sara Udon, thing and crunchy noodles and thicker noodles like in yakisoba. Both seemed to be delicious.

 

In the end, I ordered Champon. The Owner seemed to have ordered a dish of thick Sara Udon noodles.

 

For a while, I enjoyed the night view looking out the window.

I could see the harbour, the sea and the mountains. There was also the beautiful cityscape with all the lights lighting it up.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

 

「It’s beautiful isn’t it.」

「……Ah.」

 

The Owner wasn’t looking out the window at all, did he really think so?

I thought it was just a casual response.

 

「Do you come to this store often?」

「No, it’s the first time I’ve come here.」

「Ah, I see.」

 

I thought so, as my friend had said, people in Nagasaki don’t eat Champon outside that often?

While we were talking, the Champon was brought over.

It was a substantial dish with plenty of vegetables and seafood on the noodles.

After saying thanks for the meal, I grabbed the spoon and took a sip of the soup.

The cloudy soup was quite light, contrary to its dark appearance. Was it pig and chicken stock? The flavour of seafood and vegetables also worked quite well.

The ingredients were cabbage sprouts, jellyfish, chikuwa, pork, shrimp, squid, oysters and an unusual pink and yellow-green kamaboko.

The ramen noodles made for the soup had a chewy and tender texture. Delicious.

While I was absorbed in eating it, I was surprised to see the Owner pouring sauce on his Sara Udon.

 

「Owner, you’re pouring the sauce over it?」

「Ah.」

「Heh……」

「Could it be, you think it’s an unusual choice?」

「Ehehe.」

 

I smiled to gloss over it.

To be honest, I thought that the sauces for the udon were strange!

 

「In Nagasaki, fried Udon noodles are served with sauce.」

「It becomes quite delicious with the sauce doesn’t it~?」

「That expression, you don’t believe it, do you?」

「No, that’s not true.」

 

No, well, I do have some doubt.

Because it’s fried udon with sauce……

 

The Owner put some on a small plate and offered to me.

 

「Eat it and compare.」

「Uwa, thank you.」

 

No way, I can also eat Sara Udon!

I received it very gratefully.

 

First of all, by itself.

 

「It’s delicious.」

 

But the taste was different from what I had imagined.

Was it mild or lacking in salt? The taste was quite moderate compared to its appearance.

 

I wondered in the thick noodles were the same as the Champon noodles. The surface was crispy and savoury while the inside was soft with a chewy texture. Thick noodles were a minority among Sara Udon dishes(?) was what I thought. But personally, this was my favourite.

 

Pulling myself together, I then put the sauce on top.

 

「Ah, this is it!」

 

It would be rude to say it wasn’t good enough, but I felt that the sauce definitely made it more delicious and made the taste more complete.

 

「I didn’t think the sauce would go that well with Sara Udon……!」

「That’s right.」

 

It was an unexpected discovery.

 

After I was very satisfied with the Champon and Sara Udon, a mango pudding was brought to us. Apparently it’s part of the shop’s service.

 

Even though I was full, confectionery went to a different stomach and I ate it up quickly.

The store was still crowded, so I decided to leave right away without staying back for too long.

When it came to paying the bill, I got into conflict with the Owner again.

I struggled in vain and in the end it became the Owner’s treat again.

 

The time was 9:30pm. I thought it would be a bit sad to part ways right away, so we dropped by a nearby coffee shop. I had a cup of coffee before the Owner sent me home.

 

「Owner, thank you for today. It was fun.」

「That’s good.」

 

I thought it would be hard to go out on a date in a kimono, but since we traveled by car, he sent me straight home. The obi was a little uncomfortable because I ate too much, but it was fun.

 

I got out from the car and turned to see the Owner off. But the Owner also got out of the car and came around.

He was holding a wrapped package in his hand.

 

「You forgot something.」

「Ah!」

 

It was the special confectionery that Ryoko-chan had bought for me.

I left it in the back seat and forgot all about it. I felt bad.

 

「This, it’s a gift for Owner.」

「Is that so.」

「Yes, it seems to be a rare confectionery from Nagasaki. My friend bought it. If you don’t mind, please have it.」

「I understand. Thanks.」

 

I was relieved that he accepted it.

 

「Then.」

「Yes.」

 

This time, it’s goodbye for real.

 

「See you next time, on a rainy night.」

「Work hard.」

「Will do.」

 

I gave a bow in my kimono as I sent the Owner off.

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