Tokyo Hearts: A Japanese Love Story
Page 20
‘We sure will,’ said Haruka.
‘That’s my girl,’ Takashi replied.
He put his arm around her. ‘Hey – I’d like to take you out to a nice restaurant this evening, Haruka,’ he said to her.
She kissed Takashi lightly on the forehead, just above his bruise. ‘No,’ she replied. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to stay here with you. Let’s get some snacks from the convenience store and have a feast here.’
Takashi hugged her tightly. Haruka really was a girl after his own heart.
EPILOGUE
Fortune waits on honest toil and earnest endeavour
The long, freezing winter ended, and the earthquakes were now a memory they all chose to forget. The spring brought Kenji back to good health. He was still walking with the help of a cane, but his doctor reassured him that he was making a speedy recovery and that he’d soon be able to get out and about without any assistance. Yuriko stayed by his side most days when she wasn’t working at the interior design company in Shinagawa, and although Kenji and Yuriko insisted that they were just good friends, everyone suspected so much more.
Takashi did quite well in his final exams at university, but despite every effort, he was unable to take a position in a trading company due to his poor English. Instead, he began his first employment as an office worker at a bank – work he really enjoyed.
In April, the group came together for a few picnics under the cherry blossom trees. These seasonal flowers that come and go so quickly reminded them of the fleeting fragility of life and to appreciate what they had now, as it may well be lost again tomorrow.
Over the past six months, they had often gathered at Masaya’s izakaya tavern to celebrate the end of each week. As well as this, Haruka, Momo-chan, Masaya and Takashi met up to go out every Sunday and explore the shops in Shibuya and Daikanyama. They had lots more adventures, going out as a foursome.
In July, Takashi’s family were thrilled to hear Katsuro’s announcement that Mika had given birth to a baby boy, whom they named Naoki. Both mother and child were fine after the birth and in good health. Katsuro, Mika and the boy left Tokyo, earlier than expected, at the end of the summer to go and live in London, where Katsuro would work for a further four years.
Takashi enjoyed the rainy summer season that year, getting together with Haruka at his apartment and meeting at their favourite café on Thursdays. When the autumn began and the heat subsided, Haruka and Takashi began meeting up every other day, and they grew so much closer.
Three months later, Takashi sold his grandmother’s house and moved in with Haruka into a new home in Shirogane which they bought with his inheritance. They both wanted to live a bit further away from central Tokyo, but a real estate agent suggested they take a look at this lovely home and instead of deciding on houses closer to their parents, they fell in love with the place and chose to live in Shirogane. The house had an ornamental Japanese garden that Haruka had always wanted and inside was a mixture of Western and Japanese rooms.
Takashi and Haruka had a new kitchen installed with smooth white granite worktops and a bathroom with all the latest mod cons. Adjacent to the house, their undercover double garage sheltered Haruka’s Nissan March and Takashi’s new BMW. The house was far too big for the two of them and they had plenty of room for Takashi’s parents. They had spoken to them about this and decided that they would come and live in Shirogane with Takashi and Haruka when Takashi’s father retired. Takashi always wanted to look after them in their old age.
Haruka told Takashi that her parents were struggling financially and although they were against it at first, Takashi eventually convinced them to accept his help. Haruka’s parents were so pleased that they didn’t have to sell their house. Takashi also paid for his parents to spend a week with Haruka and himself in Hokkaido, where his mother could spend some time with her brothers and sisters. Even Katsuro, Mika and their boy Naoki flew over from London for the reunion.
Not long after, Takashi asked Haruka to marry him and she accepted his proposal. He just couldn’t imagine his future without her. Takashi’s mother suggested they go to Kyoto for their honeymoon, but Haruka and Takashi talked it over and decided to go to Paris!
THE END
The research for this book was facilitated by:
Café hors et dans in Omotesando
Enya Izakaya in Shimokitazawa
Mrs Ayako Naritomi
Mr Katsunori Ariyoshi
Mrs Kurihara at Umi Gohan restaurant in Ginza
The Hotel Okura in Kyoto
. . .
Go to www.renaelucashall.com to check out the free author’s Guide to Tokyo and Beyond.
Look out for TOKYO DREAMS the sequel to TOKYO HEARTS
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue