Listen to my Story|Kazuya Miyuki [English Version]

Prolog

„Dear passengers. Due to the storm we kindly ask you not to leave the main building for your own safety. Thank you for you patience.“, it echoed once again from the loudspeakers inside the airport. It was already the fourth time, that this announcement was broadcasted and most people had understood. Most of them obeyed and sat either in the airport cafeteria or at the bar just to kill time. All of them hoped that the storm would lay down, so that they could go on with the shuttle bus. She had the same hope as everyone else. After she had ordered the first coffee from the barman, she sat at the bar, deep in her own thought. Beside her stood the white suitcase, with a large blue S glued on the side, which could easily be seen from afar. She let her gaze wander through the crowd. Nothing had changed. At least at first sight. But she didn´t know yet, if this also applied to the rest of the town. But the airport still looked the same as, on her first arrival many years ago. Back then the people also hurried around in hustle and bustle. Some left the country to pursue their goals, others came back home and were welcomed by the happy faces of their families. Just like her past self. Only then, there had been a woman holding a signboard with her name written on it. Admittedly a little misspelled, but at least there had been somebody to welcome her.
//Looks like something changed after all// thought the young woman and let out a sigh.
“Your coffee” she heard a moment later and shifted her attention away from the crowd, just to see the divine brown beverage in front of her nose. She almost forgot to thank the bartender, took the first sip of her lifeblood and immediately wanted to be alone with her thoughts again. However, if you sat in a bar in a place like this at a busy time like this, there was a high risk that you wouldn´t be alone.
“I hope the weather will be improving, so that you can move on”, said the man in front of her with a polite smile on his lips.
“I doubt that. Sounds like the end of the world. It´s raining cats and dogs and then the constant thunder Thor probably has a terrible day or he got shafted by Loki. Again.” she mumbled herself, which got her an amused laugh of the bartender. With this she hoped, he would leave her alone and serve the other guests. But she was wrong again. He smiled in the typical way, nice and friendly, that only bartenders and Japanese can master. It seemed to come with the cultural mentality.
“Is this your first time in Japan?” he started to ask and looked at her curiously. She avoided his gaze by staring at the coffee in the cup in front of her, hoping that the man simply leave if she would continue to ignore him. A few minutes later he hadn´t moved an inch. He stood there, without moving, in the exact same place and looked at her in anticipation. Whether she like it or not, there seemed to be no way to avoid this conversation. It was just the last thing, that she wanted to talk about.
“No. I have been in Tokyo before, 10 years ago to be exact.” she told him, immediately anticipating his follow up question, stripping him of a reason to continue the conversation. The bartender simply nodded and continued to polish a whisky glass very professionally.
“I hope you have a good experiences this time.” he chirped with a cheerful voice and probably hoped to get an approving nod from her. She remained silent.
“Bad Memories?” She swayed her head with a sad smile. She couldn´t say that she had bad memories. Most of what she experienced in Seido was actually quite amusing, moments she remembered with pleasure.
“You have experienced positive and negative things. It is only resignation, which makes your memories bitter.” The barman nodded understandingly and glanced at the woman on the other side of the counter. However, she didn´t notice his reply, because her thoughts were with a man. That man. Once again. It had already been 10 years. How was he doing? What was he up to right now? The last question was the easiest one. He would have a game somewhere or train or drive a Pitcher crazy with his attitude. After all this was Miyuki.
“Now I know it, you were desperately in love and you couldn´t confess till your departure.” She was taken aback by his boldness and wanted to refute his statement. But the bartender already continued.
“There is no denying it. You looked and smiled in a special way that reveals your story. Believe me, I have observed this may times with the people sitting opposite of me.” That caught her of guard. She was stunned and could merely close her mouth without saying anything. You should never underestimate people working at a bar. After all, it is their job to observe and evaluate people.
“It´s okay, you can tell me.” he whispered intimately. She looked at him, cautiously, warily. Should she really tell him? Should she tell such private story, everything what happened 10 years ago, to a stranger? Or should she just stand up and leave, ignoring his offer. It is said that sometimes talking to strangers is really helpful. They got an alternative point of view or they just listen
After a doubtful moment of hesitation she began: “Okay, listen to my story.”