“Keep your voice down,” I hissed at her, as both Kumi and Kayo expressed their surprise.
Kayo turned around to scan the crowd, but despite my earlier paranoia, no one was watching us. Inside the bar, a few men erupted in laughter, and Kayo focused on them for a moment.
“Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You will talk about it right now,” Kumi demanded. “I haven’t heard this at all. Where did you hear this rumor from?”
“My mother,” I mumbled.
“Your mother?” Kumi’s face was open in shock. “Why would your mother tell you that?”
“Probably because it’s true,” Kayo said, returning to her burger. “The rumor, that is. Not that Mei-chan is a witch. I prefer ‘goddess’ in this case, but no one listens to me.”
A brief burst of pride rushed through me.
“You never mentioned this, not once,” Kumi said to Kayo, taken aback. Their friendship had tightened over the past year since Kayo worked with Goro often.
“Because it’s a rumor started by a complete asshole for no reason whatsoever. I wasn’t going to spread it or even acknowledge it.”
My entire body seized up like being dunked in cold water.
“You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?” My voice was breathy and light. Would I pass out right here? Anything was possible.
“Sorry.” She looked genuinely upset, so it wasn’t necessary to jump up and scream at her. My emotions were all over the map. “I didn’t think the rumor would make it any farther than the station. You said your mom found out?” She cringed. “Sorry. Again.”
“Make it any farther than the station?” I ground out between my teeth.
The men inside laughed again, and Kayo’s head whipped around to glare at them.
“Yeah, them,” she said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder towards the men at the bar. “Kohei and his crew.”
My body went from frozen and numb to red hot in the blink of an eye. I should’ve known it. If anyone were going to spread rumors about me in town, it would be Kohei. I had no idea why he hated me so much besides the fact that I helped to put Tama behind bars and Kohei’s cousin, Haruka, was then unable to marry Tama.
I peered into the bar and squinted my eyes past the glare of the setting sun. Yes, Kohei was at the bar, guzzling beer, and boisterously talking with some guys I’d seen in and around the station on occasion. Most of them were volunteer firefighters.
Sucking in a deep breath, I remembered the manga and mythology books I’d read as a kid. If I were going to be a goddess, I would have to make it work for me. I needed to stand up for myself. No more letting people walk all over me.
I pushed away from the table and stood up, swiping the crumbs off of my maternity skirt and finishing off my grapefruit soda. Everyone at the table paled, and Kumi’s eyes were wide with fear.
“Wh-what are you doing, Mei-chan?” she asked, her burger paused halfway to her mouth.
“Oh, nothing. Akiko? I’m going to need backup.”
Akiko’s face broadened into a wide smile. “Yes, Mei-chan.” She popped up from her seat and followed me inside.
Kohei noticed me right away, probably because he’d been spying on us since he came into the beer garden. Never one to miss an opportunity to take a dig at me, he tended to seek me out whenever I was near, especially if Yasahiro wasn’t around. Something about Yasahiro rubbed Kohei the wrong way. Perhaps his successful stature in the community? I wasn’t sure.
I didn’t need Yasahiro tonight though.
“Well, if it isn’t our local fire sprite,” Kohei said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Out for a night on the town?”
“Absolutely. I can’t keep my lust for heat contained all the time, you know. Gotta get out and spread the love as much as possible.”
I cut through their little circle, raising my glass to the bartender, and belatedly realizing this was one of Sawayaka’s prep assistants, Ichi. I knew he worked a few jobs around town, but I didn’t know he tended bar here. Excellent.
“Mei-san,” he said, smiling and waving, “I wondered if that was you outside. Grapefruit soda?”
“Yes, please.” I turned my back to the bar and winked at Akiko. “You know, Kohei…” I left off the honorific on purpose. “I hear around the rumor mill that I’m the new witch in town.” I threw my head back and laughed. “Is that why you’re keeping these firefighters around you?” I patted the arm of the nearest guy, and he cocked a saucy smile at me, no doubt four or five beers already in his rounded gut. “Afraid I’ll set you on fire?”
I jolted forward at him, and at the same moment, Akiko elbowed him from behind. Kohei jumped like a scared cat, sloshing beer out of his mug all over him and the floor. The guys howled with laughter.
“I literally could not believe my ears when I heard that one. I laughed so hard, I cried. Didn’t I, Akiko-chan?”
“I said we should buy you a black cat.”
“Oh yes. I still think that’s an excellent idea. Maybe we could even farm out my new talent. I could show up for bonfires or heat people’s houses in winter.”
One of the guys smirked. “As long as you used your powers for good, not evil.”
“Of course!” I cried, clasping my hands together and batting my eyelashes. “But I do have other hidden talents that could be used for evil.” I took my new glass of soda from Ichi and turned to him as everyone leaned in to hear me better. “How’s business been, Ichi-san?”
“Good. Lots of people seem to like the place. I think we’ll be busy through the end of the summer.”
“Did you know I’m the town witch?” I asked him, and thankfully he played along.
“You, Mei-san?”
“Me. Although these men have it all wrong. They think I can conjure fire out of nowhere, but really, I feel I identify better with a shōjō.” Yes, a shōjō! I definitely identified with a sea spirit who loved her alcohol… and had many other powers, too.
Ichi spread his hands out on the bar, leaning forward. “That… that would make a whole lot of sense. Yasahiro-san’s restaurant took off like a rocket after he met you.”
“Same with Kutsuro Matsu,” Akiko said, butting into the group of now-silent men. Kohei’s eyes narrowed at me, and I decided to lay on the dramatics.
“You know, I’m not feeling all that great about this beer garden.”
The guys took a half step back.
Akiko saw her window of opportunity. “You’re right, Mei-chan. Something about the clientele here rubs me the wrong way.”
“Is that it?” I feigned surprise. “I was wondering what it was.”
Just then, a party of five farther down the bar paid their bill and left, and suddenly, the bar felt deserted. It was a stroke of luck I didn’t deserve, but I so rarely had this kind of luck, I had to take advantage of it.
“See? Looks like my instincts were correct.”
Haha! My shōjō powers actually worked! I might not be able to conjure or tame fire (hadn’t it hurt me enough in my life?) but I could bring good fortune to businesses. As the story was told, when a shōjō loved a bar, everyone inside prospered. The alcohol flowed, and everyone remained in good health. When she didn’t like the place, the alcohol poisoned people and dried up, and the establishment went bankrupt.
It was all preposterous, traditional nonsense to me, but I would take whatever I could get.
Several of the guys looked at each other while their eyes widened.
“We meant you no harm, Mei-san,” one of the other guys said, raising his hands. “It was just a silly rumor.”
“I don’t know,” I persisted. “I have a bad feeling about this place.”
Kohei lurched forward with his finger pointed at me. “Don’t you dare. This is my territory. I come here five times a week. You’re not going to run me out of town like you did to Tama Kano.”
I blinked at the mention of Tama’s name. Is Kohei sticking up for a murderer? The other guys with hi
m backed away.
“Hey,” Ichi warned, coming around the bar. “You’re being too aggressive, Kohei-san. I think you should leave.” Ichi was at least ten centimeters taller than Kohei and knew how to handle rowdy patrons by towering over them. “Come back some other night.”
Kohei glared at Ichi and then me, slammed his almost empty beer glass on the bar, and stormed out. His buddies dolled out cash to Ichi and followed him to the door, but one guy turned around and shouted, “I never thought you were a witch,” at me.
Akiko sidled up next to me. “His father owns the cleaners,” she said, cracking a smile. “No one will want to cross you now. Nice one. I had forgotten all about shōjōs.”
Ten new people entered the bar as soon as the others had left, and I couldn’t help but wonder if my divine influence had brought them there. This kind of magic had never worked in Tokyo. Maybe I had to come home to ignite it?
“You never read as much manga as I did,” I said, grabbing my soda. “But I’m not sure I did the right thing. Kohei’s just going to be angrier with me now.”
Ichi returned to his side of the bar and nodded as he picked up his towel. “Yeah, I’d watch out for that one. Honestly, I’d be glad if he never came here again. He has a wild temper and gets into fights all the time. So thanks for granting your magical influence, Mei-san.”
“Come on,” Akiko said, hugging my arm and giggling. “I want to go outside and reenact that whole exchange for Kayo-san. She’s going to die.”
Chapter Nineteen
Sunday mornings were my favorite. Oshabe-cha was closed on Sundays and Yasahiro didn’t have to be at Sawayaka until noon, so this meant we could sleep in, eat a decadent breakfast, read, or do whatever we wanted. Mom was hopeful I would devote my Sunday mornings to her and the farm, but this was a tradition I refused to give up. Everyone needed a day off from work. I didn’t like working long hours at the office when I lived in Tokyo, and I wasn’t going to do the same with my life in Chikata.
“Here you go,” Yasahiro said, sliding a plate stacked high with fluffy pancakes in front of me. My mouth watered as I watched the steam rise and melt the pat of butter on top. “I have more coming, so eat up.”
I brought my small bowl of maple syrup to the side of the plate and picked up my knife and fork, ready to do some damage. These pancakes were doomed. “It’ll be a tough task, but I’ll endeavor to eat them all.”
“That’s the spirit,” he said, yawning and rubbing his messy head of hair. “You didn’t say how the Girls’ Night Out went last night.”
“That’s because I was in bed and asleep before you ever got home.” I sliced off two layers of pancake, dipped them in syrup, and shoved them into my mouth like someone who hadn’t eaten in ten years. My word, they were delicious.
“Sorry.” He yawned again, the spatula in one hand and a coffee cup in the other. “During my mid-afternoon break, I drove by a few places we should look at later today. I think a few of them are promising, especially since the land itself is so cheap.” He flipped a pancake, and my stomach went along with it.
My mind latched onto my original dream of renovating the family house and living there. Over the past few months, the plans had dominated my daydreams. I had built and re-built the house many times over in my head, adding stories and decks and bigger bathrooms and on and on. I’d wanted a big bedroom with an attached bath for Mom and another for Yasahiro and me, a big bedroom for our kids. At one point, I’d even imagined a huge play gym in the backyard, one where my nephews and my own kids would play all day without worry.
It was hard to let go of something I’d wanted with all my heart.
“Oh yeah? Did you want to go today during your time off between shifts?”
He must have heard the hesitation in my voice because he paused and stared directly at me.
“Yes, I’d like to go today and get the ball rolling on this. Are you having second thoughts?”
I delayed by eating another slice of pancake. How could I explain this in the most humble way possible?
“I’m having trouble believing my brother has taken over my place at home.” My voice broke over the word “home,” and I wished it hadn’t. “It’s not that I’m having second thoughts about you and me. I’m wondering if there’s any way to salvage the relationship with Mom.”
Yasahiro was silent for a moment, staring at the pancakes on the griddle.
“It’s funny you should say ‘salvage the relationship.’” He cleared his throat. “She called me yesterday afternoon, and I’m afraid I wasn’t very” — he paused, his eyes lifting to the ceiling — “polite about what she had to say.”
My hands shook, so I set down the knife and fork. “Really? What happened?” I could barely bring my voice above a whisper.
He turned off the griddle, plated his pancakes, and sat across from me at the table. By the way he deliberately draped his napkin over his lap, I knew things had gone drastically wrong. My throat closed up.
“She started in on me first. Why wasn’t I controlling you? Why wasn’t I hiring someone for Oshabe-cha? She went on and on about how she supported Sawayaka both socially and financially. How I owed her, not only for that but because she helped me find a wife.”
I was speechless, which was a good thing because the obscenities that went through my head were unspeakable.
He cut into his pancakes and stuffed a few in his mouth while I tried to come back to my senses.
“What did you say to her?”
I thought back to the previous day, how Mom was stern with me, tired, and flustered. That had been before she talked with Yasahiro. Yikes. I bet she was in a horrible mood afterward, and I was glad I hadn’t been around to witness it.
“I told her that she did not ‘find me a wife.’ That I would’ve met you, eventually. That our relationship was fated.”
My heart grew by ten sizes.
“And that we were prepared to support her, the house, and the farm into retirement and beyond. Regardless of whatever happened. But she would not be bossing you or me around, and if we’re not to be the primary support… If she’s going to give that role to Hirata and his family, then we’ll scale back our involvement accordingly.”
My pulse was beating so fast, I was sure it wasn’t good for me or the baby fluttering in my belly.
“That all sounds polite to me.”
He grimaced. “Well, the conversation got heated after that. She was insistent that you work at the farm the same amount of hours. I was insistent that you take it easy. And then I told her that if she wasn’t so mean and rude to you, maybe this all would go a lot more smoothly.”
My eyes widened, and I covered my mouth with my hand.
“And then she hung up on me.” He sighed, reaching for his coffee. “Sorry. I meant to text you or call you, but I knew you were out having fun. Then the shop became busy, and I got distracted. By the way, I love my restaurant, but your tea shop is a whole load of fun.”
I blurted out a quick laugh. “Don’t change the subject.”
“Sorry. But I mean it.”
After everything Yasahiro and I’d been through in the last year, this could’ve torn us apart. Family meant a lot to him. It’s why we called his parents all the time and visited them several times per month. His breakup with Amanda had been hard on them, but they’d come around. They were just as supportive of the tea shop as they were of Yasahiro’s restaurant, and his mom fawned over me whenever we stopped in. This situation with Mom would’ve been difficult had Yasahiro sided with her. But he hadn’t.
He had chosen me.
Maybe I wasn’t lucky in a lot of things, but I was lucky to have found him.
“So, what do we do now?” I asked, sinking my fork and knife into the pancakes.
“We do what’s best for us. We give your mom some time to cool off, and we start looking at land for our own house.”
“Well, maybe things will change when Mom cools off,” I said, avoiding Yasahiro’s eyes. I was sure
Mom would reconsider once she saw what it was like living with Yuna and the boys. She would miss me. Right? At least, I hoped so.
The apartment buzzer rang, and we both eyed it, suspiciously.
“Who would be calling on us at 9:30 on a Sunday?” he asked, getting up to answer the buzzer.
“Let me guess. It’s my mom. Or Goro-chan.”
“I’m putting my money on Goro-chan,” he said, before pressing the buzzer. “Who is it?” he asked into the intercom.
“Um, it’s Itsuki Kato. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to speak to your wife. Is she there?”
Well, that was unexpected.
Thank goodness I was wearing my good pajamas, and I had pulled my hair back into a ponytail when I woke up. Otherwise, this would’ve been a disastrous way to start my day.
“Thanks for seeing me. This was the only time I could get away. The shop doesn’t open for another hour and a half.” Itsuki rubbed his hands together, worrying them back and forth, back and forth. He was clearly uncomfortable, and the creases between his eyes pulled into a tight formation of lines. I didn’t have a lot of love for him so far, but a little compassion could go a long way.
“Won’t you sit down and join us for some coffee? Yasa-kun and I were just finishing breakfast.”
“Oh, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble,” Yasahiro said, gesturing to the table. Itsuki sat stiffly in the end chair, his back straight as a board.
I grabbed my coffee cup from my spot at the table and moved to sit across from him.
“I’m sorry to have interrupted your breakfast. I considered calling you since I have your business card, but I was afraid you’d hang up. I wouldn’t blame you. I wasn’t very helpful yesterday.”
I swallowed a mouthful of coffee and decided to lie. “Please don’t worry about it. I wasn’t offended at all.”
His look was skeptical, but I smiled to reassure him. I had been hurt and upset, but he must’ve had a change of heart, no?
“My wife convinced me to come here. She’s the good person. Not me.” He sighed and took the cup of coffee from Yasahiro, thanking him. “The real fact of the matter is that I’m indebted to someone, and that makes my situation regarding you very difficult.”
The Daydreamer Detective Returns a Favor Page 12