Chapter 35 A Midsummer Night’s Memory
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Last night, after the Tanaka couple had gone, I went into the open-air bath with Mana, and perhaps due to exhaustion, I fell asleep just like that. But when I woke in the morning, we were both naked and embracing.
After breakfast, we visited the graves of the grandfather and grandmother with the Tanaka couple, then ate lunch at a soba noodle restaurant famous in the area. It was while we were having ice cream for dessert at a nearby shop that I finally confronted Yoshimi-san with the unease I had been feeling.
”Did you ever feel that you were pressured into becoming the proprietress by your mother?”
”I never thought that, not once,” she said, an immediate reply.
”I love this town, and I’ve never once wanted to leave it. My mother was the head attendant at Jōgen no Tsuki¹; she was always busy but never failed to smile. She used to say that it made her happy when guests returned home with smiles on their faces. I admired my mother so much, so I was thrilled when the previous owner asked me to succeed him as proprietress. I even received Keisuke-san as a husband through it, so I suppose I should thank Kazu-chan.”
That last part was said light-heartedly, but I felt a wave of relief. I had heard that my mother, Kazu-chan, had been set on becoming the proprietress, meaning she had to give up many things. She had apparently proclaimed she would decide her own life and then left. I heard that when my mother brought me here, my grandmother saw her smile and regretted that she might have been wrong.
”That was all thanks to Hiro-chan. I believe the previous owner forgave Kazu-chan because you were here. Still, Kazu-chan is stubborn, so it wasn’t exactly a quick thaw.”
Keisuke-san excused himself at that point, saying he had to prepare the kitchen.
I had heard that the Tanaka couple was using my mother’s family home, so they offered to show me the way.
It was an old, private house that was ninety-three years old. They lived there with their youngest daughter, who was in the second year of high school. Their eldest son and daughter were university students and did not live there. I was told that all three had met me when I first came, but I had no recollection of it. I was introduced to their daughter, but she seemed in a bad mood.
”She seems worried that because Hiro-chan came back to Jōgen no Tsuki and brought such a lovely girlfriend, she won’t be able to inherit the position of proprietress,” Yoshimi-san explained.
”I have absolutely no such intention,” I said quickly.
”I know. Since you’re close in age, I’d be happy if you could be friends.”
”I understand,” I replied.
As the time for the first guests to arrive was approaching, we returned to the inn. Since there was a fireworks display scheduled for seven o’clock that evening, we had arranged for dinner at six.
As it was still before three o’clock, Mana and I took a stroll through the hot spring town. We looked around for souvenirs for Mana’s mother, Miyama-san, Watanabe-sensei, and the other people who usually took care of us, and then we visited a shrine that Tanaka-san had recommended. This shrine, it was said, enshrined the god of hot springs, and the fireworks display that night was an offering to this deity. We passed through the torii gate and along a path surrounded by bamboo groves, which opened up to reveal a main hall larger than I had expected. The area around the hall was vibrant, with colourful flowers blooming everywhere. As a commemorative token of our visit, we bought a Goshuin-chō² and received a Goshuin³ stamp.
Checking the time, we returned to the inn to find a different set of yukata waiting for us than the day before. Mana informed me that they were shibori-dyed. Mine was black with a grey pattern, finished with a deep purple obi belt. Mana’s, on the other hand, was pale purple with a violet pattern and a navy obi. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality we had received since our arrival.
We immediately took a bath and changed into the yukata. We stood side-by-side, looking at ourselves in the full-length mirror.
”Hiro-kun, a perfect couple is reflected there,” Mana said. “It has to be Hiro-kun standing next to Mana.”
”Do you think so?” I asked.
”Since Mana chose Hiro-kun, I don’t want you to be so insecure! You have to have more confidence!”
”I’ll try my best,” I said.
”You’d better!”
Mana gave me a hearty slap on the back.
The main dish for dinner that evening was steak made from locally sourced wagyu beef. Mana praised it just as she had the day before, saying she “wanted Keisuke-san to teach her how to cook.”
After dinner, we were told we could watch the fireworks from the terrace, but since we had gone to the trouble of wearing the yukata, we decided to venture out to the main venue. We linked arms and looked up at the fireworks together. Perhaps because the air was so clear, they were the most beautiful fireworks I had ever seen. Mana could only manage phrases like, “Wowwww,”
”Beautiful,” and “Amazing.”
The fireworks ended after about an hour, and we walked back to the inn.
We were relaxing and sipping tea when the lights in the room suddenly went out.
”Gasp! Hiro-kun, what happened?”
The light from the garden lamps was spilling into the room, so it wasn’t pitch black, but Mana still looked anxious.
Then, Yoshimi-san came into the room, carrying a cake with candles lit. She placed the cake on the table and began to sing, “Happy Birthday to you♪” I joined in the singing, and when the song ended, Mana blew out the candles.
”Oh, you scared me so much! I thought my heart was going to stop,” Mana exclaimed.
”But it didn’t stop, did it?” I teased.
Yoshimi-san watched our exchange with a gentle smile, but then she said she would cut the cake and bring it back later, and she left the room.
”Manami-san,” I began, using her formal name.
”Why the sudden serious face?” she asked.
I took the ring, a keepsake from my mother, and presented it toward Mana.
”Please accept this ring, a memento of my mother.”
”Eh? What? What is this?” Mana looked bewildered.
”Marry me once we graduate from high school.”
Tears welled up in Mana’s eyes.
”Hirokazu-san, though I am an unworthy woman, please care for me for all time to come,” Mana said, kneeling and placing both hands on the floor in a deep bow. When she lifted her head, she threw her arms around me.
”Hirokazu-san, thank you! I’ve never had a happier birthday.”
Mana cried into my chest, then looked up at me. I gently met her lips with mine.
A knock sounded at the door, and we quickly broke apart. Yoshimi-san entered with the sliced cake and some non-alcoholic wine. She looked at Mana’s face and said, “That’s wonderful, Hiro-chan,” before leaving again.
”Hirokazu-san, put the ring on me,” Mana requested, extending her left hand.
I hadn’t known Mana’s ring size, so I was anxious, but the ring slid perfectly onto her ring finger.
”It’s a perfect fit. I’m so relieved, I didn’t want to have to get it resized,” I said.
Mana looked at the ring with a joyful expression.
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Summary:
Protagonist and Mana wake up after accidentally sleeping together in the open-air bath. They visit graves and eat lunch with the Tanaka couple, where Protagonist resolves his worries about Yoshimi’s role as proprietress. They visit Protagonist’s mother’s old family home and talk to the Tanaka daughter. After returning, they dress in special matching yukata and attend a local fireworks display. The chapter concludes with a surprise birthday celebration for Mana, during which Protagonist proposes with his mother’s keepsake ring, and Mana accepts.
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Character Insight:
Protagonist’s internal conflict regarding his mother’s abandonment and the pressure on Yoshimi to become the proprietress is resolved through Yoshimi’s sincere explanation that she chose the life. Mana’s emotional depth is shown through her intense reaction to the proposal, signifying the true depth of her feelings for Protagonist.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter is the climax of the first major emotional arc, resolving Protagonist’s past trauma and setting the stage for their future. The surprise birthday and proposal elevate their relationship from a high school romance to a serious, lifelong commitment. The author uses the traditional setting and the beauty of the fireworks to amplify the romance of the moment.
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T/L:
¹ Jōgen no Tsuki > A high-class, traditional Japanese inn, the setting for much of the story. ↩
² Goshuin-chō > A special notebook for collecting stamps and calligraphy, called Goshuin, from shrines and temples in Japan. ↩
³ Goshuin > A seal or stamp accompanied by calligraphy, given by Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples as a proof of visit. ↩
Notes:
• Yoshimi – Inn proprietress, wearing a kimono, demure woman. Hiro’s childhood friend’s mother.
• Keisuke – Inn’s head chef, Yoshimi’s husband, Kazu-chan’s childhood friend.
• Watanabe – The protagonist’s guardian. He is a lawyer who is skilled at dealing with difficult people and has a history with Yabuta’s father.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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