A Day Out

My dad followed me through the streets, his eyes darting around at the different buildings and people. The cafe was fairly close to the station, so it wasn’t long before we arrived at the front.

“Wow, I wouldn’t have even noticed this place if you didn’t guide me here. It has a very rustic feel, you know?”

Mrs. Shimizu greeted us at the front with a wide grin. “Yorito! And, Mr. Yamasaki! What a pleasure it is to meet you. You’re looking very well, Mr. Yamasaki, should we take you two to a table?”

“That would be wonderful,” he replied, as we were led to some comfortable seats in the corner of the cafe. My dad’s eyes darted around the menu, and then at me

“Hah, I don’t think I’ve ever been around this part of town. It’s good you got yourself a job though. Did you need some extra money for your models or something?”

I paused for a bit. “Something like that. But I also wanted to talk to people. And have mum think I’d make something of my life. Lots of reasons, really, and I’m not sure I’m achieving any of those in the way I imagined.”

My dad’s smile changed to a more thoughtful expression, and he put his hand on my shoulder. “Well, as for the first issue, you’ll like what I got you as a present. As for the other ones, well…”

He breathed in and out.

“You might not believe it, but when I was your age, I was actually a bit of a rebel, despite all of my… quirks. But some people found it charming - your mother included."

Mrs. Shimizu interrupted to ask for our orders, to which my father replied “two coffees, please.” He didn’t even ask me if that’s why I wanted, but he’d done that ever since I was small. Even to this day, it’s the only time I ever drink coffee. I’m not sure if that’s because I don’t really like coffee, or if it’s because I want to make the taste of coffee a ritual for our rare, special moments together.

My dad took a sip, visibly unimpressed by the quality of the drink. He was almost impossible to please in this department: dad was a total hipster when it came to coffee, and nothing that wasn't plucked from the depths of some rainforest would be good enough for him.

"But it's not like my parents approved, though. And even though I got offered a great job where I was able to work abroad, they got very angry that I was 'abandoning' them. Even my siblings joined in the criticism. You know they still don't forgive me for letting you be born in another country?"

"I guess I found it weird that they never reached out to me. I guessed there was a reason why they had an issue with you, but I didn't do anything wrong."

My dad took another long swig of his coffee. Mr. Shimizu smiled from a distance, but what he didn't know is that if my dad really likes a drink, he'll savour it.

"Yeah. And that's part of what I hate here. You have to play by a set of rules you never truly understood in order to please a bunch of people who aren't being themselves. The machine runs smoothly, but at what cost? I mean, I know everywhere is like that to an extent, but look around you!"

I looked around the room. The Shimizu couple were working quietly. I knew they were good, forgiving people. Then I saw Una approaching our table.

"It's not that bad. But, I also see what you mean. It's weird. I think if I never experienced things any differently, or if I didn't so visibly belong outside the system, I'd have never questioned a thing."

My dad frowned at this comment. Una, noticing a break in the conversation, approached our table.

"Whoa, Yorito. I never knew your dad was such a looker. You don't even look related!"

My dad laughed at the remark. "Christ, you're cruel. But I'll take a compliment when it comes"

I scratched my head, slightly offended that my dad wasn't really taking my side. "Uh, dad, this is Una. She's one of my coworkers. She can be a little bit… abrasive."

Una's eyes widened. "Oh! Oh no, I didn't mean it in a rude way, I just-"

"Stop digging yourself deeper into a hole," I grumbled.

Una cleared her throat. "Eherm. Can I get you gentlemen anything?"

My dad raised two fingers. "Two glasses of water, please. Una nodded, and then walked off slowly, obviously hoping to eavesdrop on my conversation with my dad.

"So Yorito, have you decided where you want to study? The UK has some good universities, you know."

I shook my head. "It sounds nice, but I can't leave mum by herself. I'm all she has left. It'd be selfish to just run away."

My dad sighed a little, and sipped from his water. "The only thing that's selfish is expecting people to live a certain way because you gave birth to them. I know, because I made that mistake, and I couldn't cope with the consequences."

He smiled sadly at me, and Una slowly walked up to the table yet again.

"Mr. Shimizu says the drinks are free, for you"

He nodded. "Wow, what a gentleman. I'm sure he must be fond of my son. Una, what do you think of my Yorito? Does he behave himself?"

She thought to herself for a bit. "Well he's a little strange, and he's a little rude, but I don't mind talking to him."

"Strange?" My dad leaned over. "Yorito, you didn't tell her about how you spend half your time assembling and painting a Portuguese carrack, did you?"

"He what?" Una tried to hold in laughter. "What the heck is a carrack?"

I stood up, irritated. "Dad, stop embarrassing me in front of my coworkers. Besides, we should be starting our walk now."

My dad just kept laughing, as he slowly rose from his seat. "Alright, alright. We can go now."

As I left, I gave Una a glare. She responded with a friendly wave, so I just rolled my eyes and looked away. He reached into his pocket, and took some photos of the nearby buildings and scenery. My dad talked about climbing the top of the nearby hill to visit the shrine, and I had no objections to that. Seeing my dad so excited about such mundane things reminded me that the area I lived in was really beautiful in many ways. I came to appreciate the clean, well-kept steps that drew us up the hill as the true breadth of the city came into view, as well as the timeless look of the shrine, unchanged by the winds of modernity.

My dad grinned at the view. “So, why don’t we snap a photo together? It’s a view to remember!”

“If it’s a view to remember, then you wouldn’t need a photo,” I grunted.

“Don’t be such a smartass… Smile for the camera!”

My dad whipped out his phone and extended his hand out, taking a selfie of us together. It was too quick for me to react, and it was the first photo I’d been in for years.

“Hey, delete that! I don’t want to be in a photo!”

My dad kept his cheeky grin. “Too bad. When your old man pops off, you can inherit all my cameras and photo albums. But unless you push me off this hill, that ain’t happening any time soon!”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t briefly consider it for half a second, but I just grumbled as he put his phone away instead.

“Look at all that. I guess you were right when you said Japan has its upsides,” my dad laughed.

“How long are you here for, then?”

He sighed, with a hint of sadness in his breath. “Four days.”

My dad patted my shoulder, and pointed at the path ahead of us.

“That means I want to spend my one day with you to the fullest. Let’s go!”