Arrival at Shiosai

The train screeched to a halt, its metallic sigh blending with the distant hum of the sea. 'Shiosai station', a lone platform with a faded ticket booth, seemed suspended in time, where life moved at half the speed of Tokyo. The air was different here—saltier, crisper, carrying the scent of the ocean. I stepped off the train, my bag slung over one shoulder, feeling the sun on my face as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

It was quieter than I expected. No honking cars, no crowds of people pushing past one another. Just the wind and the rustling of leaves, accompanied by the faint crash of waves in the distance. Shiosai looked like a place that hadn’t changed in decades, with its narrow streets and low, wooden houses. The kind of town where everyone knew each other.

My uncle’s shop, 'Sweet Dreams', sat at the edge of town, a few steps from the beach. The sign above the door swung gently in the breeze, its faded paint giving it a weathered, lived-in look. I paused at the entrance, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. A small bell above the door jingled in greeting.

“Natsuo! You made it!” My uncle’s voice boomed from behind the counter. He was wiping down the display case, his smile warm as he wiped his hands on a towel. The shop smelled of sugar, waffle cones, and a hint of vanilla. It was cluttered but cozy, the kind of place that felt frozen in time. Jars of candies lined the shelves, tubs of ice cream sat neatly in the freezer, and the counters were scuffed with years of history.

“Yeah, I’m here,” I replied, dropping my bag near the door. My body felt heavy from the long journey, the heat of the day pressing down on me. The shop’s ceiling fan whirred lazily overhead, offering little relief from the summer sun.

“You look like you’ve had a long trip,” my uncle said, eyeing me. “Why don’t you head upstairs, freshen up, and then come back down? You’ll feel better after a cold shower.”

I nodded, grateful for the suggestion. The thought of cold water washing away the sweat and fatigue from the train ride was too tempting to ignore. My uncle’s shop had a small apartment above it, where I’d be staying for the summer. The stairs creaked under my feet as I made my way up to the small room.

Once inside, I wasted no time. I dropped my bag by the bed and headed straight for the bathroom. The moment the cold water hit my skin, it was like waking up from a long, hazy dream. The coolness soaked into me, washing away the heaviness from the trip. For a few minutes, I stood there, letting the water do its work. When I finally stepped out, the heat seemed less oppressive, and I felt a little more human again.

I changed into a fresh t-shirt and shorts, feeling the breeze from the open window. The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead, but the cold shower had done more to revive me than the fan ever could. I grabbed a towel to dry my hair and made my way back down to the shop, where the hum of conversation greeted me.

Downstairs, I found a seat behind the counter, directly under the fan. The cool air felt refreshing on my skin, and for the first time since arriving, I felt like I could breathe a little easier. I leaned back in the chair, taking in the quiet bustle of the shop. Locals came and went, browsing through the sweets, exchanging small talk with my uncle.

I was just starting to relax when the door opened, and in walked a girl. She moved with purpose, her steps light and confident, like she owned the place.

“You’re new,” she said without looking at me, her voice playful as she made a beeline for the ice cream freezer.

“Yeah,” I answered, still drying my hair with the towel. She didn’t seem to expect a formal introduction, so I didn’t offer one. Instead, I watched as she scanned the ice cream options with an almost serious expression, as though choosing the right flavor was some kind of life-or-death decision.

After a moment, she settled on strawberry and walked up to the counter with a grin. “So, city boy, what brings you to Shiosai?” she asked, leaning on the counter like she had all the time in the world.

“How do you know I’m from the city?” I asked, caught off guard by her directness.

She laughed, a short, bright sound. “It’s obvious. The way you stand, the way you look around like everything here is new to you. You’re practically shouting it.”

I frowned, unsure how to respond. “I’m here to help my uncle. And… maybe find some inspiration.”

“For what? A novel?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I blinked. “How did you—?”

“Lucky guess,” she said with a shrug, handing me the money for her ice cream. She smiled, the kind of smile that made it seem like she already knew more than she was letting on. “You just have that ‘I’m here to write something 'important’ look.”

I took her money, ringing up her purchase. “Not quite. Just helping out for the summer.”

“Right,” she said, though it sounded like she didn’t quite believe me. She pocketed her change but didn’t leave right away. Instead, she lingered by the counter, her eyes flicking back to the rows of ice cream. “Well, if you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll find plenty around here. Shiosai’s got its own kind of magic. You just have to look.”

I nodded, unsure what else to say. She gave me a casual wave and started heading toward the door.

As Hana was about to leave the shop, she paused at the door, turning back toward me with a grin.

“Ahh, I forgot to introduce myself! I’m Hanashima Hana,” she said, her eyes bright. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I blinked, a little caught off guard by her sudden introduction. “I’m Watanabe Natsuo,” I replied, feeling the awkwardness of the moment fade as I spoke. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” she said with a grin, glancing over her shoulder. “You can help me pick something more exciting than strawberry next time.”

“Strawberry’s not exciting?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She laughed again, shaking her head. “Not for someone who claims they’re looking for inspiration.”

And with that, she was gone, leaving behind the faint scent of strawberry and the soft chime of the door closing. For a moment, I stood there, still processing the encounter. There was something about her—something in the way she spoke, in the way she moved through the shop like she belonged here. Like she was part of the town itself.

“Well, that’s Hana”, my uncle said, coming up from behind me. “She’s a regular. Full of life, that one.”

I nodded, though I didn’t quite know how to respond. Full of life. That was one way to describe her.

“She’ll keep you on your toes, that’s for sure,” my uncle added with a wink before turning back to his work.

I leaned back in the chair again, feeling the cool breeze from the fan overhead. The day had been long, the heat relentless, but now, sitting there under the fan after a cold shower and a strange conversation, I felt more awake than I had since arriving.

As I closed my eyes for a moment, I couldn’t help but think about what she said—about the magic in Shiosai. Maybe this summer wouldn’t be as uneventful as I had imagined.