Tokyo Hearts: A Japanese Love Story

by Renae Lucas-Hall

  Takashi took off his North Face puffer jacket and climbed into the car. Moving Haruka’s bag to sit down, he saw him. The colour drained from his face. White as a ghost and with a huge lump forming in his throat, he croaked a ‘Happy New Year.’

  ‘Jun is staying with my family again for the New Year and so we invited him along,’ Yuriko said hesitantly.

  ‘Oh,’ said Takashi, almost choking on this one monosyllable.

  ‘Hi,’ said Haruka, before turning away from Takashi to face Jun. Haruka started describing the Izu Peninsula to him.

  For some reason, Takashi wasn’t angry at that point; he was just confused. Why didn’t anyone told me that Jun was coming along? he thought to himself, wondering if Haruka really did care about him and if the evening they’d spent together had meant nothing to her. Is that why she’d left in the morning without a word? Did her note mean that she cared about me but she really wanted to be with Jun? The vein in his head was thumping, and he opened the window a little to get some air. He really wanted a cigarette.

  ‘Good to see you again,’ said Jun in a hollow voice.

  ‘Likewise,’ Takashi mumbled back. He thought Haruka might reach over and take his hand. He kept hoping for a while that she would. This would prove to Takashi that Jun was not her boyfriend. But Haruka’s hands remained tightly clasped on her lap. To Takashi’s disappointment, several times throughout the journey he saw her hand brush against Jun’s knee, too many times for it to be natural. This trip was not working in his favour at all.

  Everyone remained silent for the most part of the journey. They drove like this for hours towards Izu, listening to an Ayumi Hamasaki CD.

  What was supposed to be the highlight of the year for Takashi was slowly becoming his worst night of the year, and the feeling he’d experienced as he’d waited on the steps of his apartment had now been turned inside out, along with his stomach.

  They reached the peninsula at about four a.m. and met up with Kenji, Masaya, Momo-chan and Akiko.

  Takashi walked away from the group, not in a good mood. He watched Masaya and Momo-chan, who looked so happy together with their arms around each other, leaning against Masaya’s car. Taroo was brushing leaves off his BMW and a couple of feet away from him, Haruka was talking to Akiko and also Jun, who looked very pleased with himself for having the full attention of both girls. Yuriko was deep in conversation with Kenji, who was facing Takashi about five feet away.

  After a few minutes of feeling sorry for himself, Takashi felt uncomfortable just standing alone away from the group, and he beckoned to Kenji to come over. He saw him wave and nodded. Kenji knew by the look on Takashi’s face, even in the dark, that he was unhappy and he was good enough to leave Yuriko near the car to come and sit with him on a huge rock on the side of the mountain. Takashi looked straight ahead. He could hear the bubbling waves crashing against the rocks below. The smell of sea salt and damp leaves filled his nostrils.

  Takashi and Kenji sat together on the rock in silence for a few minutes watching Momo-chan bring back a box of chocolate Pocky sticks from the car. They looked on as she passed them around the group.

  ‘How can I compete with someone like him?’ Takashi suddenly protested, nodding towards Jun.

  ‘What are you talking about, Takashi? He’s a smug snob with no personality,’ replied Kenji.

  Takashi peeled off his right glove, pulled out a packet of Mild Sevens from the front right pocket of his jeans and lit a cigarette. ‘He might be a snob, but Haruka’s parents think he’s great. I haven’t got a chance in the world.’

  ‘You’re too hard on yourself,’ Kenji said.

  Takashi flicked his ash with force. ‘Why does this have to be so difficult?’ he asked as he scratched his left ear nervously. Takashi flicked his ash again, so hard this time that he scratched off half the stub.

  ‘I suppose that sometimes you have to go to hell to appreciate heaven,’ Kenji replied.

  This made Takashi smile. Every now and then, Kenji came out with the wisest comments. No wonder the girls find him so charming, Takashi thought to himself. If anyone was going to be there for him, he was glad it was Kenji. They sat together silently for a while. Takashi was using Kenji as an emotional crutch. He hated himself for needing any sort of support.

  ‘Did you get that Ducati motorbike we were talking about at Masaya’s tavern, Kenji?’ Takashi asked Kenji, secretly hoping he might be able to take it for a spin.

  ‘I certainly did,’ Kenji replied.

  ‘How is it?’ Takashi asked.

  ‘It rides like a dream,’ he said.

  There were about twenty-five people waiting for the sunrise at that point on the mountain. A few metres away, the rest of their group were standing together, looking uncomfortable. Only Momo-chan, who was too young to notice or to understand the situation, was trying to persuade Masaya to play a game of rock-paper-scissors. There was only one chocolate Pocky stick left and they used the game to decide who should have it. Momo-chan beat Masaya with a rock over scissors, but they shared the last stick together.

  Akiko, dressed in liquid leather again, was talking to Jun. Even Kenji and Takashi could hear them talking. Haruka and Yuriko also stopped to listen to their conversation.

  ‘You’re from Kyoto?’ Akiko asked Jun.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘I was invited to a couple of parties in Kyoto, but I decided to come to Tokyo instead. Excuse me, but if you don’t mind me asking, Akiko, how old are you?’ Jun said, flicking his hair casually.

  ‘A little bit older than Kenji,’ Akiko replied.

  ‘Really? I thought you were a lot older,’ he said, but Akiko ignored his rudeness. ‘Aren’t you cold in that short skirt?’ Jun continued.

  ‘Akiko might not be very warm, but she looks really trendy in that skirt,’ said Yuriko, smiling at Akiko.

  ‘Leather skirts are fashionable?’ asked Jun sarcastically.

  Akiko scowled at Jun. This time, she really didn’t appreciate his sarcasm.

  Jun saw that he’d upset her and he tried to turn it around. ‘I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to be rude,’ he said to Akiko sincerely.

  Everyone listening looked at Jun with disbelief. It was unbelievable that Jun was actually showing concern for someone. Akiko returned his apology with a warm and sympathetic smile.

  Kenji and Takashi went to rejoin the group. Takashi wanted to pull Haruka to one side and talk with her, but it didn’t seem like the right time or place. They stood there for about two hours waiting for the sunrise. Just before light, Momo-chan and Yuriko began talking about the singer that they’d been listening to in the car on the way up to Izu.

  ‘I just love Ayumi Hamasaki,’ said Momo-chan. ‘Do you like her music?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ replied Yuriko. ‘I have every one of her albums. She’s my favourite pop star.’

  Jun rolled his eyes. He was obviously not a fan of Ayumi Hamasaki, but Momo-chan and Yuriko ignored him.

  ‘Yuriko, don’t you think she’s the most sincere famous person you’ve ever listened to?’ Momo-chan said to Yuriko.

  ‘Oh yes,’ replied Yuriko. ‘She’s so honest. Everything comes from the heart, doesn’t it? And don’t you think she sets so many fashion trends? She’s constantly reinventing herself. I’m always looking to see what she’s going to wear next.’

  Suddenly Masaya interjected and said, ‘Gosh, I wish there was a MOS Burger right up here on the peninsula – I’m starving.’

  ‘You’re so right, Masaya,’ said Momo-chan, reaching over and giving her boyfriend a hug. ‘I think I could eat a teriyaki chicken burger, a MOS rice burger and a spicy chilli dog all at once, and I’d still have room for a hot cocoa!’

  ‘Well, I bet I could wolf down a spicy cheese burger, a fish burger, a straight chilli dog, and onion rings and let me see – corn soup!’ Masaya retorted with a chuckle as he wrapped his arms tightly around Momo-chan.

  ‘That’s disgusting,’ said Jun. ‘Fast food is so greasy and bad for you and it gives yo
u pimples.’

  ‘Oh shut up, Jun, everyone loves MOS Burger. You’re no fun at all,’ barked Kenji as he shot the accused a piercing glare. Jun made an about turn and skulked off in a huff to lean against Taroo’s car. Everyone beamed at Kenji, grateful that someone had finally stood up to pompous Jun.

  Finally, light seeped through the blanket of darkness and morning dawned. There was no spectacular sunrise; in fact there was no sun at all – just light breaking through gloomy, steel grey clouds.

  Dismayed, everyone returned to the cars moaning and complaining. They were all tired and damp. It felt like they’d all expected to see a terrific movie at the cinema to Takashi, only to walk out having watched a B-grade flop. He turned to see where the others were and he noticed Jun pass Akiko his business card before he came over towards Taroo’s BMW. He looked very pleased with himself. Again it struck Takashi that Jun was a player. He glanced over at Haruka, but she hadn’t noticed that exchange between Jun and Akiko, as she wasn’t facing Taroo’s car, and she’d been busy chatting with Momo-chan. Surely I’m a better match for her than Jun, Takashi thought to himself for the hundredth time since he’d met this insidious fellow.

  ‘Sorry, everyone,’ cried out Masaya. ‘I was here two years ago and it was one of the most amazing experiences to see the sun rise from this point on the peninsula.’

  ‘You’re not to blame, Masaya,’ Takashi said kindly.

  Masaya shook his head. ‘Still, it was my idea.’

  ‘Let’s go home, I’m exhausted,’ said Yuriko’s brother Taroo.

  Hopping into the car, Takashi felt his spirits lift a little when Yuriko offered Jun the front seat. He felt a little childish knowing that Jun was no longer sitting right next to Haruka, but it wasn’t long before there was another turn for the worse.

  They were circling down the mountain, driving at a safe speed on a steep incline. Takashi felt extremely tired, but he couldn’t sleep. Suddenly, the tyres hit the gravel and the head of the car began moving towards the side of the cliff. The drop below was at least a hundred metres. Yuriko screamed at her brother Taroo and he swerved back on to the road.

  ‘You’re an idiot! Turn on the radio and stay awake, or you’ll kill us all,’ she barked at him.

  Takashi looked out the car window and watched the rain stream down the glass like falling tears. He said nothing, but now he was fuming inside. He felt his face flush up so much that his cheeks were burning. It reminded him of when he used to have rosy cheeks almost permanently as a child. He must have been about eight years old when his older brother – the brother for whom his family still mourned – used to joke that his cheeks were sometimes so red that he looked like he’d finished off a whole bottle of whisky. Takashi missed him a lot just then.

  Breaking from his thoughts, Takashi noticed that no one was in the mood for conversation. Everybody kept quiet for the remainder of the journey back to Tokyo.

  Takashi finally staggered back into his apartment at about noon. He flung off his shoes at the door and dialled his parents’ number. Thankfully, his mother answered the phone with her usual cheerful voice.

  ‘It’s me,’ Takashi said. ‘I’m furious.’

  ‘Happy New Year, Takashi,’ his mother said. She made him feel bad for not acknowledging the day. He already felt really guilty for not being there to celebrate with them, but it would’ve been too difficult to get to their house and meet up with them that day. Anyway, his mother was always busy at New Year cleaning the entire house and he would have been in the way, he thought to himself. On New Year’s Eve, his parents would have watched the NHK broadcast of the music programme Khaku Uta Gassen and today they’d probably have visited a shrine to commemorate the first day of the year.

  ‘Sorry, Happy New Year,’ said Takashi.

  ‘What’s the matter? Has something terrible happened?’ she said.

  ‘I went to the Izu peninsula with Masaya and Kenji and a few others and Haruka was there. She practically ignored me and spent all her time with a guy called Jun who is probably the most annoying person I’ve ever met.’

  ‘Haruka is a nice girl,’ said his mother in a soothing voice. ‘I don’t think she’d be interested in spending much time with this person if he really is so horrible.’

  ‘Well she looked pretty interested in him to me,’ replied Takashi. He went on to explain to her how they were nearly all killed in an accident. His mother listened without interruption until he paused to catch his breath.

  ‘My dear Takashi,’ his mother said to him calmly and softly. ‘I’m sure that Yuriko’s brother Taroo didn’t mean to endanger your lives. Please try and look at it from another perspective. He did go to a lot of trouble to drive you all the way to Izu. It is a long drive.’

  ‘So what?’ said Takashi. ‘He shouldn’t drive if he can’t keep his eyes on the road. Can I speak to Father?’ he asked.

  ‘He’s sleeping,’ she replied.

  ‘I should sleep, too. I’ll speak to you later,’ said Takashi.

  ‘Just keep working hard at your studies, Takashi. That should be your priority,’ his mother said to him.

  ‘Of course,’ Takashi replied.

  He put the phone down and thought about what his mother had said. She did have a point. He decided he needed a better perspective on life, just as she’d suggested.

  Takashi needed to get to sleep, but his mind was restless. He wanted to call Haruka, but he didn’t know if she was interested in talking to him. He decided to send her a text message: “Do you still want to meet in Omotesando next Thursday?”

  She sent him back a message immediately: “The café is probably closed for New Year. I can meet you there in two weeks.”

  “Terrific. I’ll be there at 6:30 p.m.,” Takashi replied. He felt a lot better, and he went to sleep for a very long time.

  CHAPTER 15

  The good will is in all

  It was eight thirty p.m. on Wednesday, the second week in January. Haruka had been wandering through Omotesando that evening after work, looking through the shops, wishing she didn’t need to be so careful with her money now. As she passed by the Café hors et dans, she imagined Takashi sitting there waiting for her the next day, and she wished that it were Thursday. Her heart was still torn between Takashi and Jun. She wanted to hold onto Takashi for her sake, yet she knew that being with Jun would make her parents happy and provide financial stability for her in the future.

  When she was with Jun, she would often think about Takashi. She’d remember how he could make her laugh and how much she looked forward to his phone calls – even talking about the weather with Takashi would make her smile. She sometimes had to cancel her dates with him on a Thursday, but it upset her when she did. Despite this, it wasn’t always perfect. Occasionally when she met with Takashi at the café in Omotesando, he’d talk about the cost of this or that and it was then she’d realise that if they had money problems in the future, this might pull them apart. On the train ride home, Haruka kept asking herself why love had to be so difficult.

  A couple of hours later, as soon as Haruka opened the front door, she knew that something was going on. There was a commotion inside. Her father rushed past quickly holding three pairs of socks. Her mother called out to her in an agitated voice from the bedroom.

  ‘Where’ve you been, Haruka? Well, don’t bother telling me. You’ve probably been out with that Takashi fellow. You’re wasting your time with him,’ she said. ‘I need to have a quick talk with you. Please come in and sit down so we can have a chat.’

  ‘I don’t meet Takashi on Wednesdays,’ Haruka said to her. ‘I was window shopping after work.’ She entered her parents’ bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed, a little confused.

  ‘We’ve been waiting for quite some time for Jun to propose, haven’t we, Haruka?’ her mother said to her.

  ‘Yes, but I’m quite sure that he’s waiting until I move to Kyoto,’ Haruka replied defensively. She wasn’t expecting her mother to broach this subject as soon
as she walked in the door.

  ‘Because I’ve spoken to your father and we think that you and Jun are floundering, so we’ve decided that we should go to Kyoto and meet with his parents again to start arranging wedding plans with him and his family.’

  ‘If you think that’s best,’ Haruka replied, knowing that this would make her mother happy.

  ‘Yes, we do, Haruka. You’d better hurry up and pack, my dear, because I have a surprise for you – we’re going to Kyoto in the morning and you must get ready and join us. Now go and get a move on.’

  Haruka wanted more than anything to make her parents happy. The thought of a big, expensive wedding, living in a lovely house and buying everything that her heart desired, which would all be possible if she married Jun, now made perfect sense to her. Haruka’s mother gave her a knowing smile as she turned to continue with her packing, but it suddenly occurred to Haruka that she might not be able to go at all.

  ‘But Mother, I have to work tomorrow, so I can’t go with you,’ she said despondently.

  ‘I’ve spoken to your work. They were very nice about it, and they’ve given you the time off.’

  ‘You’ve spoken to my work?’ Haruka asked her mother, grinning from one ear to the other. Normally Haruka wouldn’t be happy about her mother speaking to her boss without talking to her first, but that evening, she secretly thanked her mother with all her heart.

  ‘Yes, dear,’ she replied. ‘I spoke to your work a few hours ago and they said that would be fine. They even suggested you call in to see Mrs Aoki at the English conversation school to finalise any details about your new management position.’

  ‘That’s terrific,’ said Haruka. ‘I really want to ask if they’ve organised my accommodation.’

  ‘I spoke to Yuriko’s mother this morning, and she said she needs to go to Kyoto to visit a sick friend, and I thought to myself that this was the perfect opportunity for us to meet up with her sister, Jun’s mother, don’t you think?’