A Light In The Town: I

Part One - A Light In The Town

She was a light in the centre of the city. On a small stage in front of the department store sometimes used for street performances, she was standing alone with a microphone and her guitar. I heard her before I saw her first. A single voice and a single guitar. The way she played seemed rather raw. Not sloppy, but not perfect. The guitar was an acoustic guitar, and it seemed she was strumming it hard so the notes could be heard. It was a rather cool early spring day, and she was wearing a long coat and a scarf. To the side, some vans were selling food, some fried and some sweet. A handful of people were sat eating, but no one seemed to be watching her. She didn't care. I stood still, wanting to hear more. My eyes met hers, and she seemed to smile at me.

Her hair was the first thing I noticed. A golden blonde. Fairly short. Her complexion seemed to be pale, too. It was hard to guess at an age, but I supposed she was possibly an international student. It seemed like she was singing a love song, in fact the lyrics were rather cheesy. You are the sweetest chocolate, I am the bitter coffee, give me a bite and I can start your day right. Something like that. She seemed to be having fun. Most song lyrics were a little cringe anyway, if you took the time to dissect them. What mattered is that she was singing it with confidence. She was having fun. She seemed like she would have performed to an empty room.

"Kirika!"

My concentration was snapped. Mari had called out to me. Only I had stopped to enjoy the show, my friends didn't seem to take much note of it at all. We were a bit pressed for time. Ordinarily we would have had the entire day to browse to our hearts content, but Yuri had insisted that we go see this new movie. She had a major crush on the lead actor and was a sucker for anything romantic. We had plenty of time before the screening time, but there was shopping to be done and lunch to be had first. No time to be standing around outside the store.

***

We walked out of the store with our arms full of bags. Yuri was still a little emotional after the movie. It was fine I suppose, but it didn't really leave an impression on me. By now it was dark, and the blonde girl who had played here was, presumably, long gone. The stage had once again just become another part of the street to walk over. I wasn't sure if there were more or less people than before, but there certainly seemed to be a lot more energy. I liked being in the city at this time. There was a buzz. The start of a night where anything was possible. Of course, in a few hours the energy would become something else entirely. But for now, it was mostly sober.

Mari, Yuri, Kaede and I usually grabbed some food after we went shopping, and so today we attended a pizza restaurant. I think it was an American brand. It was a buffet place, offering unlimited pizza among other things. It had became one of our default locations; it was close to the station and, despite often getting busy, it was always possible to squeeze in somewhere. I'd had better pizza, but this was fine for what it was. It wasn't exactly artisanal, but it was warm and covered in cheese and meat and tomatoes, and that was enough. Similar could be said about the pasta and salad bar options. It was possible to get better food, but sometimes food quality is not the top priority.

Yuri was still going on about the movie. I think. Dipping in and out of the conversation, it seemed as though she was mostly going on about the actor. I wondered if she had paid attention to the movie at all, or if she was simply gawping at the pretty boy whenever he was on screen, imagining herself as the woman he pursued.

"What'd you think, Kiri?"

"Huh?"

What was she talking about? The movie?

"Yeah, I… Thought it was good."

That seemed like a safe answer.

"It? That's pretty rude to Takkun."

Oh, the actor.

"Um… I mean, the makeup was good. I liked his eyebrows, he looked very cute, right?"

Please agree with me.

"Cute? I guess… But he was really cool, too! Eyebrows though? Hmmm… Yeah they were pretty sharp! What about you, Mari?"

Safe. Her attention was turned to another. As she was wittering on, I spotted a lull in the queue for the buffet and made my approach. My first plate was, to use a word, optimistic. A healthy side of cheesy pasta, a garden's worth of garden salad and three slices of pizza. It was when I started to eat the second slice, that I began to realise my folly. I shouldn't have filled up earlier on so much popcorn.

After our time was up and we had settled the bill, the energy around the station was a little more rambunctious. You could see some people unsteady on their feet, others being supported by their friends or partners. We made our way to the station. Yuri and Kaede parted ways before the gate; they had to go catch the subway. Mari and I, however, were going to the same station on the local train. We didn't talk much. There wasn't much to say. Plus, I guess we were both a little sleepy after having gorged ourselves.

Mari and I parted ways outside the station. Our houses were about twenty minutes in the opposite direction. It was a quiet night. All nights around here were. A sleepy residential area. Hard to believe just fifteen minutes ago we were in the heart of the metropolis. If I hated anything about my home, it was how far away it was from the station. I had often considered buying a bike, but the roads were so steep that it felt like riding up the hills would be murder and coming down would be suicide.

My house was large, especially for the city. It was an old western-style house with a small front garden, and a larger garden at the back. The front room light was on, so I knew Mama must've returned home. Mama didn't like hanging around an empty house, so she would often go to a cafe to meet friends or try and do some work if I went out. Sometimes she would go to the gym and spa, which I knew because she would sometimes invite me along.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home, dear."

"Has Papa called yet?"

"No, not yet. I'll call you down when he does. You said you were eating out today, right?"

"I did."

I ran up the stairs to my room and got undressed, ready for a bath. Usually I would enjoy a long soak, but today I just washed my face and then had a quick shower. I was feeling restless. I thought back to the girl I had seen on the stage, to her song. As I showered I even found myself humming the melody, and making up new lyrics that I thought would fit. I wondered which band she was covering. I don't think it was a new song, if it was I had not heard it. It wasn't impossible that the song an original, but somehow the feeling she gave off did not suit the cheesy lyrics at all.

After my shower, Mama called me down and we talked to Papa for a few minutes. He said he would be away for a little while longer, perhaps for a couple more weeks. I hated him being away, almost as much as I knew Mama hated it, but it could not be helped. By now it was getting late, so I excused myself and headed to my room. It was still the Spring vacation, but it wouldn't do to let my sleep pattern wander.

Once in bed I couldn't settle. I had that stupid song stuck in my head, and the way that girl sang it with such passion. If I could just hear it in full, I would be satisfied. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and started tapping away, searching for half-remembered lyrics.

Bitter coffee sweetest chocolate lyrics

Nothing.

Coffee bite day right song lyrics

Nope.

Yokohama outdoor stage cool singer

Again, no.

Perhaps it really was an original song. I suppose there was no option but to try and see her perform again.