The first year of the Showa Era (1926)
Downtown Tokyo.
My name is Chisato Hara, I worked in a cafe as a waitress. They call me chi-chan while working.
All the men who come to the cafe are those who have a lot of money. Most are government employees, businessman, or rich young people. I'm happy because they gave a lot of tips and present. I don't want to be arrogant, but I'm quite popular.
It's just that this job has a lot of risks. For example, some men who come to the cafe already have a wife or lover. Some moments, they might slap us. Watered us with water is a common thing for us. I also, several times.
I mean, it's not like we want to take their husband or lover. Some men who come to the cafe, usually talking about their business matters with fellow colleagues. Maybe they feel more comfortable because our cafe service is good. It's not like we sleep with them.
But, women are easily jealous. At least, those who are not confident.
And the question that always irritated me, like how will you marry with a job like that? People who say that they don't really care, just gossiping bad thing about us.
I also want to get married, have a family, marry a man I love, who has a good job, from a good family, not gambling, honest, and so on. And then, they will say, where do you find someone like that? Especially if you are a waitress.
Well, that was nothing to do with who you are. All woman would be thinking like that. When they said, I don't really have a type. As long as he loved me and he's a good person. But, when a poor man coming to them honestly, even when he's a good person, they will say at least I want to marry someone who has a good job.
I just being honest.
The question is not that why I can't get married, I will get married if the man that comes to me fit with my expectations.
Forget about that.
A few days ago, one of the customers gave me a present. White flower vase with a beautiful pink cherry blossom tree carving on it.
But, there is something strange about the flower vase. Even though I put fresh flowers every day, the flowers will wither to the next day. I have filled enough water and followed the advice given by the flower shop. But, still, the flowers are easy to wither. I put flowers in other vases and the flowers can last up to 3-4 days.
You know, like folktales from the Nara era, where antiques have souls. Therefore I think to sell it to an antique shop. I also need money.
I heard about an antique shop that was told by one of my customers. He said that his roommate was merchants, later telling strange antique shops.
They said when you walk down to the narrow back alley in a certain downtown area, you can find an antique shop.
"Oh!" I stopped when I saw a sign, No. 49 Ren'ei antique stores. I then stepped closer to the store and pushed the door slowly.
Cling !!
"Welcome to our store, dear customer. What can I do for you?"
Cold air pierced all over my body even though is hot outside. I looked around and thought this shop was dark. Why don't they open the windows? The windows are pitch black too, I can't see any reflection from outside.
A girl sat there, in front of a pile of books on the table. She smiled while looking at me. Beautiful young girl. Her face was as white as crystal and her eyes are clear glow.
I wondered what cosmetics she was wearing.
"Excuse me," I walked over to the girl, "I came to sell this flower vase? Can you give a good price? I need money," I said, putting the flower vase on the table.
"Is your parents unwell? Maybe your mother?" the girl's question flinched me.
"Why do you think like that?" I asked, looking at her confusedly.
"Uhm ..." She muttered while taking the flower vase slowly, "I just thought, you are still very young and beautiful, from how you dress, it looks like you have a job with high pay. A young woman who still single, if that's the case, it's certainly enough to your life needs. If you need more, certainly for other needs. Generally to be given to parents who are sick, " she said while looking at the vase.
"It's possible I'm just waste the money for fun?" I said it lightly.
"No," she looked at me for a moment, then looked back at the vase, "If I'm not mistaken, you work at a cafe, don't you? If you want to have fun, you don't need to use your own money. Moreover, most cafe employees used the money for self-care, "
This girl ...
"After all, if you want to use the money only for having fun, you will not say it in the first place," she chuckled, "The book said, a woman always do the opposite,"
Is she a fortune teller? She even knows I was working as a waitress.
I sighed, "The money is for my parents. Can I sit down?" I asked and the girl nodded. I then pulled the chair and sat down to face her, "I came to this town 7 years ago, when I was 17 years old. At first, I worked as a maid at the cafe, but the lady who owned the cafe offered me to be a waitress,"
"I see," the girl looked at me, listening seriously to what I was saying while smiling kindly.
"My family lives in a remote village in the mountains. We are very poor. My parents only work in other people's fields. I have a younger brother, he is 5 years younger than me. He currently works in a wealthy merchant as an accountant, "
"That's very good, " the girl smiled, "But...sometimes when someone is on top, it scared them to look down, isn't?"
I looked at her, "You know everything, don't you?" I sighed and smiled, "You're right. After getting a job and leaving the village, not even once he ever returns to visit our parents. In fact, he never sent them money. The child doesn't know how to thank his parents," I began to get annoyed when I remembered about my stupid brother.
"But, you are not like that, Miss," the girl looked at me.
"Well, I can't give a lot. Being a waitress costs a lot. You have to look young and beautiful all the time, you know?" I chuckled, "Every month, I can only send a little money to them. In their letters, they always say, I don't need to do it. But, I know their conditions from my neighbors who are medicine traders. He said that my father is sick," I sighed.
"Don't you go to see them?"
"No. I rarely get holidays at the cafe. That's because I'm popular, you know," I laughed, "After all, I don't want to make them worry. And, parents always want to see their daughters come with their husbands,"
"Uhm ... don't you have a lover, Miss?" The girl looked at me.
I sighed, "I'm a very choosy person. I'm not married to anyone. If the young man who suits my taste comes in front of me, then I will get married soon," I laughed.
"I don't think it's like that?"
"Uhm...?" I looked at her confusedly.
"It's not like you are the choosy type, it's just that you don't know what kind of man you want to marry," the girl surprised me, "If you want to marry a rich man or educated man, there are many of them who come to the cafe, I'm sure some of them ever proposed to you, I'm right?" She smiled.
I gulped and looked at her. She looked at least 10 years younger than me. But, she's very sharp.
"Don't know what kind of partner you want in your life, meaning not knowing about yourself," she looked at me with a smile, "I think it doesn't matter if your partner is not handsome or rich, as long as he can accept the way you're and be honest with each other, I'm sure you will be fine, "
Somehow my tears suddenly fell on the table. I seemed to not realize I was crying when the girl gave me a pink handkerchief. I don't remember when the last time I'm crying. Live is really hard for me. I don't have someone who I can be honest with. People only nice in front of you, while talking in your back. I'm experiencing a lot.
She then took a book and opened some of the pages, "Meaningful of life is not about being rich, being highly educated or being perfect. It's about being real, being humble, being strong, and being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others, it is only then, that we could have a full, happy and contented life,"
I looked at her with teary eyes. She seemed to knows me more than myself.
"That's what was this book said," she smiled at me, "What if it's 2000 yen?" The girl asked, "I mean, this flower vase? You want to sell it right?"
I chuckled as I slowly wiped away my tears, "Thank you very much. Oh, there is something strange about this flower vase. Every flower I put in it will wither in one day, while other vases can stay fresh for up to 3 days," I said, "Is it possible for this vase to be haunted by something?
The girl chuckled, "Don't worry about the problem, I'll handle it,"
I took a deep breath, then took out a white handkerchief with a red rose pattern from my purse, "This is for your handkerchief,"
"Are you sure?" The girl asked.
"No problem," I got up slowly from the chair, tidied my clothes, put money in the bag, then looked at the girl, "Thanks a lot,"
"Pleasure to help you," she smiled brightly.
"See you then," I then turned my body and walked towards the door. My steps stopped for a moment. I turned around and looked at the girl, "Am I going to find a man who can accept the real me? I feel I have been struggling, I'm not sure anymore," I laughed.
The girl stared at me, "Love is like a lost object, if you search too hard, you won't find it. But, If you just forget it momentarily, it will show up in the most unexpected way, "
I gasped at the words.
The girl smiled, "That's what the book says,"
I laughed, then looked at the girl for the last time. I bowed my head, then stepping out of the antique shop.
The sun's rays instantly dazzled my eyes while warming my body.
Slowly I took a deep breath and looked at the bright blue sky that day.
***
"What's with the flower vase?" Chikage asked when he saw Aki putting flowers in it.
"Just wait," Aki smiled as something appeared from inside the vase. The shadow turns into a young woman.
"Tsukumogami?" Chikage looked at the young woman.
"Please help me," the young woman said while crying hard.
"What is it for?" Chikage looked confused.
"This vase has a pair. It seems that the antique craftsman made it pair to describe men and women, isn't that right?" Aki looked at the young woman.
The young woman nodded her head, "Can you help me find my partner? He also must have suffered greatly," the woman didn't stop crying.
"That's how it is. All flowers wither because you are sad, so you can't maintain the beauty of the flowers placed in your vase," Aki sighed.
"What should we do?" Chikage asked.
"Uhm ... we need to find the other vase. If both are placed side by side, then the flowers that put in the vase will not wither, they will even bloom beautifully for months," Aki said.
"Do you know about us?" The woman looked at Aki.
"I heard this story from the book, " Aki smiled, "A warlord had to go to war and leave his wife whom he loved so much. Every day, the warlord always brought flowers to his wife to put in a vase so that his wife could enjoy the beauty every day. But one day he had to go to war, it could take months and flowers could not survive that long in a vase. He then asked a well-known antique craftsman to make a vase that could make the flowers not wither even for months until he returns from war, "
"I see," Chikage muttered.
"But, hundreds of years may have passed. What happened? " Aki asked.
"We also don't know. One day I woke up and Yuu had disappeared," the woman said.
"Yuu?" Aki asked.
"My name is Ume and my partner Yuu," the woman said, "As long as we are not together, there will not be long-lasting flowers in our vase. I'm afraid, something bad happens to Yuu. What if someone throws it away? " Ume's crying grew louder.
Chikage sighed, "Crying won't make your lover come back,"
Ume then looked at Chikage sharply, "Haven't you ever lost someone you love so much? You don't know how it hurts," Ume crying loudly.
"Ume-san, don't worry," Aki smiled, "I'm sure, soon you'll be together again,"
Ume's cry suddenly stopped. She looked at Aki with sparkling eyes, "Hime-sama, really? Yuu will come back?"
"At least, that's what this book says," Aki chuckled.
"Eh ??" Ume looked confused.
"The world will not separate those who love each other,"
Tale 2
End