In the city, with you (pt 3)

They re-entered the building and descended the stairwell. Back on the ground floor, Mia started talking to her viewers in English, giving them an update on what she had just witnessed.

“We’re now leaving the building, have a nice day, spooky squad!” she said as she opened the door leading outside, back into the alleyway.

When Haru closed the door behind him, he noticed Mia stood frozen. He turned around, and his heart started pounding. They weren’t alone anymore in this alleyway. Next to them stood a man wearing the uniform of a nearby shop, carrying a bag of garbage. His head was red like a tomato. Haru imagined fumes coming from his mouth.

He looked totally pissed.

“You think this is some kind of game?” the man barked, his voice sharp. “That building’s off-limits for a reason. Dangerous. And yet you just waltz in like it’s a theme park attraction.”

He glared at Mia, his brows frowning.

“Foreigners like you treat this country like it’s your personal playground. Have some respect.”

Haru stepped forward, giving a small, respectful bow.

“I’m sorry for any trouble we caused. We shouldn’t have gone inside without permission.”

He straightened up, looking at the man with resolve.

“But Mia didn’t mean any harm. She’s not here to make fun of this place or treat it like a playground.”

He glanced at Mia, who looked stunned.

“She’s our guest here. She’s curious. She asks questions, she cares. More than a lot of people I know.”

His voice steadied.

“So please don’t treat her like she’s just another disrespectful tourist.”

“Haru…” Mia quietly whispered.

She turned to the man.

“I’m sorry, I let my curiosity get hold of me and dragged him along. Please don’t call the cops on us!” she pleaded.

The man's expression softened, he looked a bit startled, probably because he didn’t expect her to talk Japanese like that. He blinked, clearly taken aback. He rubbed the back of his neck, his tone less sharp now.

“You speak a good mouth of Japanese…” he muttered.

He paused and then glanced between Haru and Mia.

“Look… I just don’t want people getting hurt or treating this place like some Instabook stunt.”

His eyes lingered on Mia.

“But… I can see you weren’t trying to be rude. Just… don’t go bash into buildings like that, be careful.”

He let out a small sigh, then walked away, mumbling something about getting back to work.

The couple stood still, gasping to find the right words. Mia looked flustered, like she could start crying at any moment. Haru pulled the sleeve of her jacket. “Come, let’s get out of this alley.”

At the end of the alley, the couple was met with rays of radiant sunlight. They found themselves right before the entrance of the karaoke place Mia had been looking for. Haru walked up to the door, but when he looked back, he noticed Mia wasn’t following.

She stood still, her eyes looking down at the pavement, her earlier enthusiasm vanished.

“I don’t feel it anymore, Haru,” she said with a hiccup in her voice.

X

After deciding to skip karaoke, Haru and Mia wander around aimlessly, like anonymous shadows in the big city crowd. He hadn’t seen Mia like this before… she looked almost depressed. Haru knew he had to do something to lift her spirits, but couldn’t decide what to do next.

Then, his thoughts got interrupted by his growling stomach.

Maybe we should find a spot where we can get something to eat.

Haru scanned the street, looking for a shop sign, somewhere they could get a quick bite.

“Taiyaki,” he mumbled, staring at a sign in the distance. “Let’s go there.”

Mia looked up, “He??? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Haru pointed forward, “Look, there is a Taiyaki shop there. I was thinking of getting us one.”

The blue-eyed girl remained silent.

“You don’t like Taiyaki?” he asked with a confused voice.

She shook her head, “No, that is not it… or at least it looks delicious. I’ve never had one.”

Haru chuckled, “Alright, I guess they don’t sell these in America.”

The couple walked up to the shop booth, where Haru ordered two Taiyaki. He passed one of the fish-shaped cakes to Mia. She took a big bite, the sweet red-bean paste sticking to her cheek.

A soft smile formed on her face, “Delicious… just what I needed.”

The two settle down on a bench and finish their sweet snack. Haru folded out a map of the city and looked for a nice, quiet place to go.

Mia grinned at the sight of the boy unfolding the giant piece of paper, “You’ve been carrying that with you all the time? You’re so old school."

Haru smiled, “Some things it's easier to get an overview on a big map compared to a little screen.” He pointed to an area on the map, “Let’s go here, I bet you will love it.”

After another quick bus trip, the pair arrived at an area just outside the city center. Their nostrils were met with the smell of blossoming trees. The sound of the water flowing beside them had a calming effect.

Mia held Haru’s hand and whispered, “Now this is definitely romantic.”

Together, the couple walked along the sidewalk, taking in the view. Mia let go of Haru's hand, leaning her head against her shoulder instead. A warm breeze blew through the trees, the city's noise far away in the distance.

After a long pause, Haru glanced sideways and spoke softly, “It’s funny… Today was louder than I’ve had in a long time.”

Mia lifted her head, staring at Haru.

“I’ve always lived quietly,” he continued. “I tried not to stand out, stuck to my book, trying not to bother anyone. Staying out of my friends' shenanigans, trying to be the quiet and reasonable one. I guess I was scared of catching too much wind.”

The girl let out a small laugh, “Funny how I’ve always felt the complete opposite,” she said. “I’ve always been told I’m too much. Too loud, too present, too curious. Today proved it again, didn’t it?”

Haru stopped walking. In his head, a line of poetry echoed.

Do I dare disturb the universe?

Yes, he decided, he had to console Mia and give her the support she needed.

“I don’t think that’s what today proved.”

Mia looked at him, her eyes questioning.

He smiled gently, “I think you proved you care a lot. You are not too much, you’re just enthusiastic, reading to explore new places, customs, and people. You even learned a completely new language.”

She looked away, “I can’t shake the feeling that that guy is right… I’ve been treating this country as a personal amusement park.”

Haru grabbed her hand, “Please, stop, Mia. That’s completely false. Before you came to Hanabusa, nobody had ever heard about stuff like the Weeping Lantern… we just saw the town as a boring place where nothing ever happened. Me and my friends, we were counting down the days we had to stay there before we could leave for the big city.”

He took a breath of air, “Then you came around, shaking up everything. Your enthusiasm for the town made me reevaluate the place I grew up in. The history, the myths, the natural beauty, everything…”

Mia’s eyes started tearing up, “D…do you really mean that? You sound like you do.”

Haru instinctively hugs her, petting her head.

“Please don’t change yourself, Mia. I like you exactly how you are,” he whispered in her ear.

“Haru,” she softly whispered, embracing her boyfriend. The street lights turned on as the couple gently hugged next to the calm, flowing river.

Mia leaned back and gave Haru a short kiss. After that, she grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

“Let's find a karaoke place before we have to catch the train,” she grinned, “I want to hear your angelic singing.”

Haru chuckled, “You’re putting the bar too high. I sing like a drunken sailor.”

The couple entered a karaoke bar. Haru gave a tone-deaf rendition of “My Way”, while Mia picked a famous Japanese pop tune from the 80s. They ordered a basket of fried food to fill their empty stomachs before leaving just in time for the final train.

Together, the couple entered the almost empty train car. Exhausted, Mia leaned her head against Haru’s shoulder, the boy opening his book of poems. And as the train rocked gently through the sleeping city, Haru read aloud, just loud enough for Mia to hear, “Till human voices wake us, and we drown…”

But she was already fast asleep, breathing softly beside him, as if the day had finally given her peace.