Good morning.
Oh! Reading a book. That's quite unusual for you, huh?
I mean, reading books and such...
It suits me, doesn't it?
What's with the tattered book? What's wrong with being tattered?
It's by Ozaki Kazuo, "Nonki Glasses".
I bet you don't know him.
I saw it on an old bookstore, so I finnaly bought it.
A writer who's unable to sell his books
falls in love with a young woman and makes her his wife.
On top of that, she's a good woman, too.
You seem to have read it before.
I did. Time and time again.
And yet, you still bought it?
You really don't understand it...
You can't overlook it. You just want to take it home with you.
I guess that's about it...
Akane-chan? Yes?
You know, a book is like a chance meeting.
Just when you forgot about it, it appears before your eyes without warning.
It reminds you that it exists. What did you remember?
Oh, I know... Another old love, huh?
Someone really cherished this book, you know.
I'm going out for a bit. Oh, where are you going?
I remembered I've wanted to go to this place for a while.
I'll be back in the afternoon.
So, where are you really going? Jimbocho (Tokyo's center of antiquarian bookstores).
"Tokyo is a wonderful city.
No matter your age, chance encounters are waiting for you.
How many times have I fallen in love?
And so, today too".
(Jimbocho Love)
"The name Jimbocho originated in the Edo period by Nagaharu Jimbo,
who was a shogunal vassal, and who set up a vast estate around here".
"During the Meiji era, many lawschools were established one after the other,
and so, bookstores started to open and gather around here,
in order to satisfy the needs of the students and researchers".
"Before long, old books started to be sold to poor students,
and that's how antiquarian bookstores began".
"When you look at the south side of Yasukuni street, you can see all these antiquarian bookstores.
This comes from the conventional practice of building the stores facing north
so that the books are kept out of the sunlight.
Jimbocho, where bookstore signboards are aplenty, is the world's best antiquarian bookstore district".
"Just like this person, I often used to indulge
in reading books inside the store like that".
Kururi-san.
Huh?
Oh...
I'm Yukino.
Yukino-chan?
Really?
"...And just like that, a sudden encounter comes along.
Could this really be? Meeting that person's daughter..."
My, it's really been a while.
To think we could meet here, of all the places. That's something else.
Would you like to go for some tea, or something? If you have time, of course.
No problem, at all.
This way, then.
"I wonder when was the last time I saw her.
Yukino-chan bears quite a resemblance to Kaori-san".
Excuse me. Thank you.
Let's see the menu.
Here's the menu.
What should I get... Hum...
You had quite a strong taste, didn't you?
You really remember it, huh?
I remember you very well, Kururi-san.
"If I'm not mistaken, the last time I saw her she was a high school student.
Was it badminton... No, the basketball club.
She was always carrying a sports bag
and used to go through this short-cut..."
Is something wrong?
No, not at all.
Well, Yukino-chan, you're really an adult now.
I'm 32 now.
So, the last time I saw you was probably 15 years ago.
Yeah, you turned into a fine young woman, Yukino-chan.
"It's no flattery when I say that she turned into a beautiful woman".
Were you checking me out? Earlier.
No, no. Absolutely not.
I was just remembering something. Kaori-san.
Then, it just happened to be you, Yukino-chan.
I guess I really look like her. My mother, I mean.
"Even the way she smiles is the same..."
I followed the same path as my mother. Wow...
Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
It's not like I took the same steps as her, though.
Your dream came true.
"Above all else, Kaori-san loves books and sake."
My relationship with Kaori-san, the editor of a woman's magazine,
started when she was a regular customer
at our Japanese sweets store.
And so, before I knew it, we turned into drinking buddies".
So, how is Kaori-san?
She left the company and is now running a restaurant in Shonan.
What? She quit the publisher? And has a restaurant in Shonan?
And after that, she also remarried.
Remarried?
You, more than anyone, know that she was always an attractive person, right Kururi-san?
Is that so?
"No matter how badly heart-broken she was,
Kaori-san was the type of person who would find a new love right away.
Most likely, Yukino-chan has also inherited that trait".
So, when did she remarried?
Six years ago.
Six years ago?
It was around the time when you and my mother had broken up.
What?
No... Really?
You should know this much already.
Well, no... That...
That... Huh...Huh? So that's what really happened, after all.
Well... you see...
Honestly, she hasn't changed, really.
Why did you and my mother...
Yukino-chan... You see, me and your mother...
Oh, I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have asked.
Please, just forget about it.
Yeah...
Sorry about that. It's okay, you can pick it up.
Very well.
"The face of an editor.
What a great woman she became".
Are you short on time?
No, but I can't stay much longer.
I'm sorry. I'm the one who invited you.
Oh, nonsence. I mean, today we met by chance,
but you have to work.
Nevertheless, I could spend some time with you, Kururi-san.
Really?
So, next time...
Will you meet with me again next time?
Oh... I will certainly do.
Ah... That's great.
"Besides remembering me, you even want to see me again.
Why is that, Yukino-chan?"
Okay then... I'll see you.
Until next time. Do your best at work. I will.
Can I take one? Oh... Well, until next time.
See ya! Yes.
Work hard!
"My... Can there be such a coincidence?
I guess I'll see you again."
"Wait a minute...
This may not just be a mere reunion.
Could this fortuitous chance encounter turn into love?
No, I can't. I can't..."
Geez... How long have you been walking around?
Oh... Sorry.
Now then...
Okay, okay... Okay.
Ah...
This store has a regular day-off.
Are you here, Taku-chan? Oh...
C'mon, don't give me that "Oh".
You can't just come in here unannounced.
This is not your place anymore, you know.
Sorry about that.
But you know, I kind of miss it somehow.
I often used to come through that door and hang out with you here.
That's true.
You enjoyed being here rather than in the shop.
For some reason, I always remember your workshop.
Hey, do you have a moment?
Sure.
"To go to the trouble of coming here at this hour...
That can't be good...
Are you trying to tell me you want to come back or something?
Huh? But I..."
Oh!
(Yukino-chan: The other day we talked about grabbing a bite. I finally took a day off. If it's all right with you, how about tomorrow? Me: Yes, let's go!! I'll look for a nice place to eat).
(Yukino-chan: If you're in the mood how about that place from the last time?)
"I see. That can only mean one thing".
I guess it's not a good time...
I'll come another time. Sure.
Here you go.
Mother and daughter, huh? You actually did that?
Hell no! What are you talking about?
So, what is really going on?
With Kaori-san.
Oh...
Well, it wasn't really about going out with her, you know.
More like a close friend?
Hum... I really loved her, though.
But, there's no way Yukino-chan and me...
Are you still hesitating?
You're the one who was invited, right? Isn't that considered a date?
Should I expect that?
Being invited by a woman is definitely a good sign.
Araki-kun!
Still, you should be careful.
Huh?
"Okay, there's still one hour until our agreed time.
Now, where should I go?"
"There's a great number of slopes in Jimbocho.
This one is Onnazaka (the easier of two slopes).
The name comes from the fact that you can take a breather here.
Just up ahead around the corner and you'll see the Otokozaka (the steeper of two slopes).
Otokozaka is a straight and tight slope".
"That's right. Looks like it would be nice to eat at the Yama no Ue hotel (Top of the mountain)"
"This place is called Kinkazaka.
There was once an elementary school around here where Natsume Soseki went to.
As a boy, Soseki must have walked through here quite often".
"This place hasn't change one bit.
...Or has it?"
Oh?
Oh, my...
Here we are again...
"What a coincidence!"
Aren't you a little early?
Since I was in the area, I thought I'd also stop by a bookstore.
Me too.
Really? I thought the same thing.
Well then...
"One coincidence after another. That must be fate".
This is a good place. Oh.
This is amazing!
Excuse me. Oh, I'm sorry.
"Uh-oh... I've just checked her out".
I love this book.
"Oh... She just got closer to me naturally. Doesn't this mean...
We're attracted to each other?
I'm sorry, Kaori-san. But, I think I've fallen in love with your daughter".
When I look at the photos of this woman's house,
I feel peaceful, so I really like it.
However, when I look at this, my chest tightens.
Really. I'll remember that.
Go ahead.
Thank you for your kindness.
Don't mention it.
What should we do now? Huh?
Oh! "How about Matsuo (Restaurant)? Sake and soba noodles".
That's Shotaro Ikenami (Novelist). Yes.
Right? It's great, isn't it? Shall we go?
Let's go.
Delicious.
Shotaro Ikenami was born in Asakusa, right?
As expected from an editor. You do know a lot.
He seems to have moved as soon as he was born,
but he later returned and spent his childhood in Asakusa.
Really?
He was born in Matsuchiyama Shoten, which is near my shop.
Is that right?
So, Matsuchiyama is...
A temple.
But on holidays it's crowded with couples.
Ah...
Couples...
"This isn't good. Yukino-chan is too pretty...
If this continues for much longer it will become unbearable".
Oh, let's order more. What?
Additional sake.
Oh.
Let's do that. Let's do that!
Here you go. Ah, thank you.
You're very kind, Kururi-san. Am I?
Just like you used to be long ago.
I'm the daughter of someone you broke up with, after all.
Yeah...
But you see, what matters is now.
So, Yukino-chan, I guess you haven't changed much.
You think so?
I did change.
But, it looks like you're back.
I do want to come back, if I can.
Huh?
I was thinking of getting married.
Married...
I was thinking of getting married.
Married...
But we broke up.
Oh...
Even though I was by his side,
I didn't even notice our hearts drifting apart.
Because of that...
He was stolen from me. By another woman.
Stolen from you...
I said it...
I haven't been able to talk about this.
...With anyone.
Not even with friends...
You were suffering.
I didn't know what would happen if I decided to talk about it.
I just couldn't show it to others.
Still...
I thought it would be okay if it was you, Kururi-san.
Huh... Why do you think that?
It's because one day...
It was you, Kururi-san, who suddenly and unexpectedly appeared before my eyes.
I see...
That's why I'm very grateful to you for today.
For keeping me company.
A new day will surely begin again tomorrow.
"Can this also be a coincidence?
Kaori-san often said the same thing?"
Is everything okay?
No...
I was just remembering something.
Can I ask you something?
What?
Why did you and my mother break up?
Oh...
Right...
You see, your mother and I,
it's not like your mother actually broke up with me.
She said this to me:
"I don't want to be just with you.
I don't want to be heart-broken just by you.
If things don't go well with us and I end up heart-broken,
I'll just lose my partner".
I think I understand my mother's feelings.
Okay, I'll go now.
I'll be seeing you.
Can I take a picture?
Sure!
"Mother and daughter did bear a resemblance to each other.
Kaori-san, Yukino-chan... Perhaps the two of you
might suddenly appear in front of me again, someday".
"If that happens, then we'll have another drink".
Huh... It seems that Taku-san is awfully immersed in sentimentality.
It's not that. He's depressed about something else.
Hum?
Don't tell me, are you hangover, Taku-san!?
Don't come any closer. I told you it was something else.
More like, he's in shock.
What? Taku-san!?
That hurts! Is your head throbbing? Hey, are you okay?
It's not throbbing. Don't force yourself.
Are you okay? Huh?
He stinks, he stinks! Hew... He stinks, he stinks!
I'm gonna throw up! Get outta my way! Uwaaaa!