CAFÉ MERMAID ORIGINAL COOKIES - 50% OFF
Great. So for this manuscript, that's the only revision.
- Got it. - If you don't mind, please.
Also, how's the blurb for Mori's book that I requested last week?
I read the book. I'll submit it soon.
Great.
We only need 50 words. Can you complete it by tomorrow?
All right.
Are you visiting family for the holidays?
Yes. I'll show my face for a little bit over New Year's.
My family lives close by, so I can see them any time.
But I'm paying them a visit tomorrow to drop off my cat.
Cat? You mean that big cat you took in off the street?
I wouldn't put it that way, but yes.
You're leaving the cat with them to go on vacation?
Yes, Hawaii.
Really?
Cookies are half-off. Only 150 yen.
- No thanks. - What about you?
Oh, no, I'm good.
- Sensei. - Sorry.
- Please. - Just one.
Much appreciated.
Oh, are you wrapping up work before taking a leave?
I am.
Will you be closing your cafe for a few days?
We close in two days. We're open year-round except on New Year's Day.
You can't call that year-round.
Do you even get customers on New Year's Eve?
Yes, every year.
There are people in Tokyo
who don't visit family or go traveling over the New Year's holiday.
Sensei, thanks a bunch.
- Sato, do you want some cookies? - No thank you.
Just checking.
I don't want them.
I don't like sweets.
Eat them for Mambo.
Well... Toilet cleaning sheets.
Oh, those. They're on the list.
Also, we need nets for the sink drain.
- Sink drain nets? - Yes.
They make those?
Yes. I'm not talking about hair nets. For the sink.
Also, we're out of takeout containers and plastic bags.
- Are we? - Yes.
- Welcome! - Hello.
- One beer. - Beer, okay.
I don't see you grabbing a bite here often.
Today's my final day before the holidays.
She's visiting family from tomorrow on.
Really?
Where are you originally from, Mito?
Mito.
- Mito? - Yes. I'm from Mito.
That's where she gets her nickname.
Is that right? I thought Mito was your real name.
No. My real name doesn't even come close.
What's your name?
Shiho Sasase.
Shiho Sasase?
What a tongue-twister.
Morning.
- Morning. - Hello.
Thank you for your patronage.
What?
He's covering my shifts during New Year's.
Is that right?
You aren't going home for New Year's?
Won't your family get worried?
No, they'll be fine.
Sure.
Wait, where are you from?
I'm from Niigata.
Niigata? What a coincidence.
I used to visit there often. My friend's parents live there.
So whereabouts in Niigata?
Well, I'm from central Niigata.
Central, so close to Nagaoka.
- That's right. - Wow.
Have you been to their annual firework show?
Just once. It's always crowded.
That's true.
I'll be back.
Is the Italian restaurant Mikazuki still open?
Oh, they're known for their fried noodles.
Yes. Curry-flavored fried noodles.
- Yes, curry-flavored. - That's right.
- I miss those. - I'm with you.
- Go ahead and get changed. - Okay.
Mind if those shoes get grimy?
Not at all.
They're totally worn out.
Are they?
Want to wear my roller skates?
I'd fall for sure.
Izumi's working with Fuku.
Remember, don't tell Kaoru.
I won't.
You look like you'd spill secrets under pressure.
That's rude.
You know, I've had my fair share of troubles before reaching my age.
Like what?
You know, problems.
Can't think of one in particular.
Some things are better unsaid.
I told you, I won't say a word.
A perfect fit! They're Fuku's hand-me-down.
What? Wow.
It suits you! Right, Sensei?
- The hat and all. - Yes.
You look just like him.
- You look good. - Thank you.
As soon as Christmas Eve is over,
the entire city prepares for the New Year's holiday.
Christmas and New Year's blend into one in this city.
I don't dislike that about here,
the way it can't choose one over the other.
Being by myself is easy.
Being alone, I don't bother anyone
and no one pesters me.
But stay alone for too long,
and I begin to miss company.
Yet, the more time I spend with someone,
the more I begin to miss solitude.
Being alone is best, after all.
I like being by myself.
Look up.
The results will be ready in a minute.
Please wait over there.
Influenza.
Type A.
You tested positive.
- Really? - Yes.
Let's see, today is the 30th, so...
One, two, three... don't go back to work until January 3rd.
Okay.
It's New Year's season, so you shouldn't have too much work.
I'll give you a prescription.
Pick it up at the pharmacy in the back.
Usually, we can send medications to other pharmacies,
but they're all closed for the holidays.
- It's the only one open. - Okay.
Well, you're good to go.
- Wait in the lobby. - Thank you.
Thank you.
Take care.
Take care of yourself.
Next patient, please.
Good heavens.
THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR
Hello?
Hello, this is Sawada.
I don't mean to rush you,
but I'm about to board my plane, so you won't be able to reach me.
I'll get in touch about the blurb as soon as I land.
How does that sound?
Actually,
I caught the flu.
What? Wait...
Do you feel okay, Sawada?
Oh, I'm healthy as ever.
Are you doing all right?
I don't think I can finish the comments today.
Oh, I understand.
There's some leeway for the deadline.
I'll need it by January 5th.
Sorry.
Don't worry about it and take care. I'll talk to you later then.
I've heard that people reach death in the real sense
when they are completely forgotten.
The very first thing that is forgotten
is the voice.
My grandmother had a bar with only counter seats in Namazu, Shizuoka.
As a little boy,
I liked to sit under the counter and listen in
on the grown-ups' conversations.
One time, my grandmother took me to a Safari Park, just the two of us.
On the train, I got my face dirty with chocolate.
My grandmother laughed and wiped my face clean.
Now, I can't remember the things she said
or how she sounded.
TOMOKAZU - HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hey!
Sawada, hey. Sawada!
Come on, Sawada.
Yes!
Check us out!
The busiest day will be January 3rd. Then traffic is expected to slow down.
END-OF-YEAR LOTTERY FIRST PLACE WINNER
The winning ticket for the 1-billion-yen lottery,
the End-Of-The Year Mega Lottery, was announced outdoors, today.
The grand prize ticket
is group 181, number 152869.
The second prize is group 137, number 199347.
- Tani, you really shouldn't. - Seriously.
- You'll run out. - It's high in purines.
- It's New Year's. I don't care. - Come on, Tani.
- You really shouldn't. - You can eat whatever you want,
- but you'll regret it later. - Wow!
Sensei caught the flu.
- Oh, dear. - No way!
But this is the best season of the year!
Is he still in Tokyo?
I think so. He said he wanted to eat New Year's soba noodles with us.
Terrible.
It's difficult when someone single catches a cold.
What if he's calling his ex-girlfriend?
That would be creepy.
Is his girlfriend still missing?
I haven't heard a thing about her.
- Thank you for waiting. - Thanks!
I can heat this up and serve tempura on top, right?
Yes. The herbs are already in the soup, so just add soba.
Sounds good.
Can you boil soba at your place?
I'll try it out. Happy New Year!
- Happy New Year! - Happy New Year!
Let's take something to Sensei.
- He caught the flu. - He'll probably fail.
- What? - I'm telling you...
I'll get something started. Izumi, can you deliver?
Yes.
Will you be okay? Don't get lost.
- I'll use Google Maps, so I'll be fine. - Yes?
Youngsters use their smartphones. They never get lost.
Quit worrying about everyone.
Come on, why wouldn't I be worried?
- I bet he doesn't know about Google Maps. - But you know...
Hey.
- Hey. - Kaoru handed me these.
- She says to take beer and sports drinks. - Oh, I'll take them.
It's fine, I'll go with you.
- You sure? - Yes.
That's nice of you.
Who's going to run the kitchen?
It's New Year's Eve, it'll be fine without me.
- Guess you're right. - Yes.
- Do you know the way? - I think he lives over here.
This is it.
Are you sure?
- Yes. - Okay then.
- Mind holding it? - Sure.
Should we ring the bell?
Well, he might be asleep.
Yes.
- Let's just leave the food. - Good idea.
- There's the food. - Let's go.
Thanks.
Whoa!
Thanks, Fuku.
No problem.
- Is Izumi there too? - I'm right here.
So will you be okay?
I'm pretty sick.
This is the worst.
Talk about bad luck! On New Year's too.
We brought soba.
Thanks.
- Just open the door. - Don't want to get you sick.
- This is so helpful. - Yes.
We also brought sports drinks.
Sports drinks!
On the floor.
There you go.
Man...
- Happy New Year! - Happy New Year!
That was terrible.
- Left a bad taste. - Really did.
Before we came into this world...
Mind if I close up?
I'm ready for soba. No one else will come in anyway.
Are you visiting home, Kaoru?
No. I'm leaving for Hakone with my son tomorrow.
Wow, that sounds nice.
- You have a son? - I do. Is that bad?
I wouldn't have guessed.
The same goes for you, Tani.
True.
My parents owned a cake shop.
What about it?
They went out of business.
Yes, we closed the shop when I was still in high school.
The day before we permanently closed, we ate the leftover cakes in tears.
My father told me, "Whatever you do, don't open a cake shop."
Your stories never sound real.
Nishi, do you have plans for New Year's?
Me? After I wrap up here, I'm going to Yabu's, then to a sauna.
- Nice. - Then I'll watch a drama on stream.
- Wow. - Really.
For a single man, it's no different than an extended vacation.
And you, Inui? Are you spending it by yourself?
I have to go give New Year's allowance to my nieces and nephews.
They adore me since I give them a generous amount.
Just like a host club.
- How much do you give them? - What?
10,000 yen per elementary schooler.
That's way too much.
But you know, it costs that much.
Elementary school students need lots of things.
- Different things here and there. - Right.
- It's expensive. - And it makes them excited too.
- That's right! - And they like you a lot for it too.
- That's right! They're adorable. - Of course.
- They go, "Auntie, auntie!" - Right.
Do you insert a message?
No, that's too much work.
- The flu can get pretty bad. - Seriously.
- Have you ever caught it? - Many times, when I was in grade school.
- Wow, really? - Yes.
Me too.
It's so rough.
On New Year's Eve too.
- That's the worst time to catch it. - Yes.
Look.
Looks delicious. Cake pops.
- Want to have some? - Sure.
They come in 40, 20, and 12.
Forty? There are 40 in here?
That's right. This one's got 20.
Really? Wow. Want to go for 40? Think we can finish them?
- Count on me. - Great.
- Forty, please. - That'll be 1,000 yen.
Hold on.
Crap.
My bad.
- I'm so sorry. - It's all right.
- I have my wallet. - I feel terrible.
Don't worry about it.
Sorry, I made you pay.
Don't worry about it.
I'll repay you when we get back.
- Don't worry. - Let me pay you back.
So is Izumi your surname?
It is.
Really.
What's your first name?
Shinichi.
Shinichi. You're Shinichi Izumi.
Yes.
Really now.
Your first name is Takayuki, right?
Fukuo is your surname, and your first name is Takayuki.
Did Kaoru tell you?
Yes.
But people have always called me by my last name.
So it feels strange to hear my own name.
I'm Takayuki.
Right, Takayuki.
That's the bar
where I broke up with Aki.
- It's Aki! - What?
I will become the best editor in the world!
- Is the camera on? - Yes, it's rolling.
- Can I start? - Go ahead.
How are you? This is BAR Lighthouse!
- Woo-hoo! - Yes!
Some
Day
My
Prince charming
Will come find me
He'll carry me
To his castle
Some
Day
I'll find my happily ever after
The lovebird's
Bell
Will ring
Clearly
The first one to be called out was Yamamoto-Ukyo-Tadasuke.
The second one to be called out was Torii-Kiichiro-Shigefusa.
The third was Sekiguchi-Rokusuke-Nobusada.
The first one, Yamamato-Ukyo, trips right below the 186th stone step.
Yes, hello?
Hey, it's me.
Where are you?
Happy New Year. It's been a while.
Yes.
Where are you now?
I wanted to ask you a favor.
Every year, past students send me New Year's postcards.
But I can't go get them this year, so I don't know who to reply to.
Do you want me to send pictures of the greeting cards?
Yes. That'd be great.
I'll send them postcards from here.
Coming in.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, SENSEI. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD YEAR.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. LET'S GRAB FOOD AGAIN! SHIHO SASASE.
Shiho Sasase?
211, 212, 213!
- Hurray! - They did it!
You've broken the world record!
Okay, team red. Team white won't let you outshine them.
Now, a performance from team white.
This is their first year on our end-of-year special.
Performing "Forgotten things," it's Pioneers.
I dreamt of someone I used to know
The memories of back then bursts out
The room stays silent and Pretends not to notice
How many years have I spent here?
The old days that flow out of my hands
Spill down to the same spring
I can't
Hear a single thing
Words that lose meaning
The more they are spoken
I was young and had given up
But your gaze shed light Ever so straight forward
And it adds color to the memories
I heard the busy footsteps
Of many people
All the special days we celebrated
They are still marked on the planner
I can still faintly remember
Your words and voice as you shed gentle tears
At all the days full of holes
I wait for you in the sunset
Still slightly on the horizon
Even the words of love I said to you
I will keep on singing them So that I don't forget
The days bloomed ever so kindly
So she's doing well?
Are you friends with her?
Some things don't need to be said.
Mako Izumi is my mother.
Write about her and make a profit.
I don't need to change.
Translated by Megumi Hunter