Aki made his way down the hill from the inn, reaching the paved streets of Kumano. The town's quiet and almost deserted atmosphere indicated that there was little need for cars in this small, isolated community of fewer than 5,000 residents.
As he approached the diner, his watch displayed the time as 8:47, indicating that he was running late for his usual practice of arriving 30 minutes early, a habit Himeno had suggested to him years ago. Aki was fully aware that Makima's dinner invitation likely wasn't a romantic date, so he wore his Devil Hunter uniform, though he left his sword behind. He was prepared to meet Makima and address any business or mission-related matters that might arise during their meal.
The entrance bell chimed as Aki stepped into the diner, alerting the aging cook behind the bar to his presence. The elderly man, likely in his late 50s or early 60s, waved a friendly greeting from his position near the stove. Soon, an older woman, dressed in casual attire but with a name tag that read "Mrs. Kashimoto," approached Aki. She gestured for him to take a seat at the diner counter and asked with a warm smile, "What would you like, sweetie?"
Aki's face turned slightly red, feeling a bit out of place in this quaint establishment. Mrs. Kashimoto retrieved a pen from behind her ear, tucked a strand of silver hair back into place, and patiently awaited his order. Aki hesitated before explaining, "I'm actually just waiting here for my friend."
"Ooooh, a friend?" the elderly man behind the counter chimed in jokingly.
The conversation continued as Mrs. Kashimoto shared a nostalgic tidbit, "You know, my husband and I actually had our first date in this diner."
Aki was surprised. "Really?"
"Yes, sir, 50 years ago," she confirmed, her words evoking the sense of timelessness that this diner seemed to encapsulate. Aki couldn't have guessed that the man at the stove had looked the same way half a century ago.
Aki listened with genuine interest as Mr. and Mrs. Kashimoto shared their heartwarming story of love. Mrs. Kashimoto spoke first, recalling her younger years. "I was 15 then. I was going to be a soldier, and I had spent the last 2 years begging Mitsuko to go on a date with me. She was 18 at the time and friends with my older brother. But once she heard I was going off to war, she said yes."
Aki smiled at the story, and Mr. Kashimoto continued with the tale. "He pestered me every day about it. Back then, this town was nothing but a farming village, certainly not big enough for an inn. You were either a farmer or a fisherman. This diner was actually a small shack where a man made fried dough."
Mr. Kashimoto took a break from the stove, hanging a knit apron on a hook in the kitchen. He added, "It was actually the advice of my older brother. He said, 'Isamu, go join the military. All the soldiers I know have sweethearts back home. Join, and, well, if she can't give a man a last request to eat fried dough with him, she's not a girl you want to be with.' And it worked, you know. The war ended a week before I was supposed to take a train to Kyoto to join the battle."
Mrs. Kashimoto, now cleaning a glass next to her husband, continued the story. "He was a little fool. He said, 'Mitsu, if I come back from the war in one piece, I want you to marry me. Then I'll buy that old stand, and we can eat sweets until we're old and fat.'" She giggled.
Aki couldn't help but crack a smile, the warmth of their story providing a sense of solace. His previous worries about the dinner seemed to have faded away. Mr. Kashimoto, curious, inquired, "So, this girl you like her, young man?"
Aki froze, realizing he hadn't mentioned anything about a girl. The old man winked at him, an understanding smile in his eyes. "Fifty years of marriage, and I've never seen a young guy like you get all dressed up just to meet a friend at a beachside diner at 9."
Aki looked down at his suit, feeling a bit overdressed for a casual dinner. He confessed, "She's my boss. I do like her, but I think she likes someone else."
The old man scratched his head thoughtfully. "Ahh, that is a toughie." Aki glanced at his watch, which now showed 8:55. Mitsuko whispered something to her husband, and he burst into laughter. "Oh, I like that idea."
Aki couldn't help but inquire, "What idea?"
Mr. Kashimoto leaned in and shared their well-seasoned advice, "Me and the missus have seen a thing or two in romance. Here's some advice: if she likes you, she'll be as dressed up as you are. Dress to impress and all that."
Aki looked down at his Devil Hunter uniform, pondering whether he should change into something more casual, especially considering they were supposed to be undercover. But Mitsuko chimed in, reassuring him, "Oh, don't be nervous, son. If she likes you, then she'll have overdressed as well."
Aki couldn't help but smile and express his gratitude to the couple for their wisdom. He glanced at his watch one final time, and it read "9:00." The anticipated meeting time had arrived. With a newfound sense of confidence, Aki felt ready to face the evening ahead.
As the bell above the door rang, Makima entered the diner, capturing Aki's attention. She was dressed in a black jacket that was casually draped around her arms, revealing a white flower-printed, pastel yellow sundress. Aki noticed her white shoes, which had a distinct tap-dancing feel as they rhythmically clicked against the tile floor of the diner.
Mr. Kashimoto nudged Aki, offering a compliment. "She's a looker, buddy. But I think I beat you."
Mrs. Kashimoto playfully smacked her husband on the shoulder and pushed him back toward the kitchen. Meanwhile, Makima took a seat at the counter, placing her jacket on her lap. Aki, with a polite demeanor, greeted her, "Good evening, ma'am."
Mrs. Kashimoto was delighted by their manners and attire. She took out her pen and a notebook from her pocket, ready to take their orders. "My, my, you youngsters are so well-mannered and so well-dressed! So, what will you two be having?" she inquired with a smile.
"Oooga Chaka oooga ooga ooga Chaka." The upbeat tune played on the radio at the tiki bar, and massive torches illuminated the beach in a circle. Denji and Kobeni stood nearby, their attention captured by the sight of a massive pig being slathered in honey before being placed over a fire, filling the beach with a tantalizing aroma. Angel was seated at a table, enjoying a bowl of peanuts and swaying his head to the music while gazing out at the sea.
Reze joined in the festivities, singing along with the music and keeping an eye on Denji as he watched a middle-aged, tanned man spin fire on a long staff. Kobeni's fixation remained on the pig roasting on the fire, and she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Yoshida, on the other hand, maintained a stoic demeanor, his gaze fixed on a pot of oil burning on a stove. He observed the calamari and octopus frying in a deadpan expression that seemed to convey more emotion than Reze could decipher. She found it a bit amusing, thinking that he appeared overly distressed by the cooking process.