I'm Always Searching

That was yesterday. I let that comment go, because let's be honest, is it so surprising that a woman with infinite free time is some international exporter's daughter? With the way she was acting? I'm not going to bring it up. Last night, for some reason, we all stayed at Tony's house, great guy, truly. We played games, talked about their upbringings, Tony's and Rin's, didn't care to hear it too much. It was a mansion. He said something interesting though. When we were talking about Osaka Industries, he said he had only been working there for 5 years, but even within that time, Osaka Industries accounted for upwards of 30% of Japan's GDP (a countries exports and imports). Which isn't unusual for a corporation to have influence, but from 5 years ago at .03 to 30 percent is strange.

"Rin," And now, I have to be careful with this "This farm we're going to in Kitagawa, who runs it?" It's another sunny day outside. Nahari to Kitagawa is only a few minutes, but Tony lives a litter, ha, a little further out.

"An old friend of our family's. When we moved, we stopped talking as much, but they have a daughter my age. We were always friends." I don't like to overdo it, but it's a little hot for me to be wearing baggy cargo jeans. Okay, if that's true just a friend of a family, who knows how big this one is? I'm kind of kicking myself because I was too caught up in the ambiance of the dock yesterday, I didn't really focus on the selection they had. No yuzus, so not too important. 

"That's nice. Do you talk to her often? The daughter at least."

"Not much, no."

Blue sky, we're driving up the highway up a mountain. Fresh vegetation behind the guardrails. This time I'm passenger side facing the ocean. I said I didn't want to know about her, but I don't know. Ridge and I talked and finished that conversation about the grant and all, from the other day? You might've forgotten, I talk a lot. Anyways, I guess that feeling I had was right. It seems that a lot is riding on this research. Somehow, Ridge convinced the Dean to give us some extra days. I was under the impression that he wanted to go. Maybe he senses the same thing I do.

"We're almost here, but a question for you."

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Why yuzus? You never really answered my question before. I've talked to a lot of people, seen a lot of fruit, read papers, reports, I'm always searching, yet I've never met anyone so interested in yuzus. It's the only thing we grew up until I was 8."

I hate to kill the vibe and all, but it really isn't sentimental. "Um, I don't know. I've done a lot of research on various types of fruit, and I guess because I'm Japanese, I thought, "There has to be some indigenous Japanese fruit." and now we're here." We actually did pull in the building. This one looked more like a lab in comparison with the one from yesterday. She scanned a badge at the window, opening the wired gate and then we found a spot on the 4th floor of the parking deck. The main building was connected to the deck by a bridge, with an elevator chute. Where's the farm? "So, it's true you're leaving today?" she asked me.

I was taken back by the question, "Um, I don't know. It's possible. Why?"

"Okay, that's a short trip. I thought you wanted to see more."

It must be break time. Everyone is walking to their cars while we're heading towards the bridge to cross, space was tight. "More? You mean that tree you were talking about? I don't know if I exactly believe you, it being the first yuzu tree and all. That'd go against popular opinion and data."

"But isn't it fun, to be on the cutting edge, the person to find the truth? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. This person we're going to visit, I don't know, I think he knows something."

"Yeah, but why is it so important?"

"Don't play dumb. I told you it has properties to cure blindness. I'll be honest and say it's not something I've seen, but trust me, it's real." And I did. For some reason, I believe her. Maybe there's more to me being with her th-"I don't doubt you. Why me? I mean, I get it, you're a fan-"

"My grandma's the big fan. I'm a minor fan."

Liar! "Ha, okay, but what's the point of tagging along?"

Ding!

We stepped into a full elevator full of people wearing lab coats, one lady in a wheelchair was being pushed by what looked like her daughter. A man in a suit, underneath a lab coat checked his watch-hufff, the elevator shook for a second. I don't know why it's bothering me, to know if I'm wanted to be here. "I don't know, you tell me. You're the one who tagged along with me."

"True, but you already knew me but asked for my name. I just-I don't know. Forget about it."

Ding!

All the lab coats and suits filed out; it was just us left with about 30 more floors to go up. This is no small tour. High access, glass office, black market greenhouse type of touring she's doing, for me. "I want to feel like you can trust me."

"I don't, to be honest. There's a lot of unknowns about you."

"Okay, number 1?"

"Why do you know a guy like Tony? Not a bad guy, but if what you said is true, he does a lot of black-market work."

"I told you. We went to school together. His business is his business. I don't judge, and I know no matter what, he does good work. I always give credit when it's owed."

"You're a saleswoman, yet you're touring around with a stranger. With all this high-class access. Anything you want to tell me or?" I mean, c'mon. This isn't normal, right? To be so well connected, I just want to hear her say it. 

"I heard you and Ridge talking yesterday, after I ended my phone call."

"Oh, okay. And?"

"Yes, I'm- haha, it's true. My dad owns Osaka Industries. It's true that I am his personal saleswoman. I usually work in Tokyo. Where we met, remember?" I looked away for a second. I knew she was about to smile at me. What she says adds up, but something still doesn't. She brought it up, she's not clueless. 

"Shin, I need your help."

***