We really could meet again later. Mr. Daniel asked where I lived, then asked me to wear something casual. But that night, he picked me up in the lobby wearing ordinary office clothes. He had just come home from work like any other employee.
“Don’t you work tonight?” he asked as we walked along the street near the hotel.
“No, I had work earlier today, but I’m free tonight. I’ll be going back to Kyoto tomorrow morning. Thank you for accepting my invitation...” He smiled at me, and for some reason, I loved seeing him smile.
“I haven’t been to Tokyo much lately. I used to come here all the time. My mother was Japanese, and I spent my childhood in Tokyo before she died when I was twelve. Then my father decided to move to Hong Kong. Like you, my father died in an accident when I was fifteen, and I ended up living with my uncle.” He suddenly began telling me about his life. It turned out our fates were the same.
“Now I understand why you felt like helping me.”
“This area used to be my playground a long time ago. But do you know what I miss most about this neighborhood...?”
“What, Mr. Daniel?”
“Yatai ramen.” I laughed. Yatai ramen was ramen served from a food cart, found along the roadside, especially near stations. Now I understood why he had asked me to walk. “When my parents were still together, eating yatai ramen was a special happiness for us. Whether it was the weekend or a holiday, the three of us would often go out late at night just for a bowl of hot ramen. Maybe I just miss being able to remember those times.”
“I understand. No matter what, eating together makes for happy memories.”
“You don’t mind, do you? Isn’t this too simple for a famous geisha like you? If you want to go somewhere else, that’s fine...”
“Of course I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?” He raised his eyebrows comically.
“I’m sure.” He smiled, and we continued walking, making small talk. I was actually happy that he was showing me another side of himself, trying to be completely honest about who he was.
We finally arrived at a ramen cart. An elderly man ran it with one employee. The two of them were talking to each other.
“That man has been selling ramen here since before I can remember. He used to work with his father, and now he’s carrying on the business. He remembers me...” It turned out he really was a longtime customer.
“Have you not been to Kyoto lately, Mr. Daniel?”
“No. The last time we met was the only time I’d been invited to a teahouse by Mr. Yamada. Maybe I came once more, but I didn’t meet you.”
It was a pleasant dinner. We talked about our childhoods in this neighborhood, and he asked about my life in Gion. I was happy to answer his questions.
“It feels good to have made it this far, doesn’t it? We can talk about the past without feeling burdened by it anymore...”
“That’s right. It feels like we’ve finally gotten through everything.” I wanted to know a little about his personal life. “Mr. Tan, are you single now? You don’t have a wife? I’m curious because Hisao mentioned it yesterday.”
“Hmm... We got divorced. Let’s just say... we weren’t compatible. It’s been about two years.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. You were just curious. But why are you curious? Don’t tell me you’re trying to find a match for one of your friends?” I laughed. But for some reason, I felt sad that it had never crossed his mind that I was the one who was curious about him.
“I just wanted to know more about the person who helped me. You seem like someone who’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. I was just curious...”
“Hmm... Famous geiko like you aren’t allowed to marry, right? But you can have a danna. If you get married, though, you have to leave the profession.”
“Yes, that’s the rule...”
“Do you have a danna?”
“No, not yet. Having a danna requires a relationship of the heart. I’m still young, and there aren’t many people who can meet my aunt’s requirements. My monthly earnings and popularity may have made Auntie set a rather intimidating standard for that kind of relationship...” It was embarrassing to talk about something like this, but since he wanted to know, I explained it. I felt that he had been honest with me too.
“Hmm... That makes sense. You’ve reached a special level of popularity for your aunt. You could say you’re her gold mine...” I grimaced, unsure whether I should feel happy or sad about that.
“Would you like to take a walk and try another snack? I’ll buy it for you this time.”
I was interested in an imagawayaki stand not far from us. We had passed it earlier.
“Sure. I’d like an imagawayaki...” I paid for the yatai ramen, and we walked back toward the hotel. We stopped at the stand selling them.
But suddenly, someone yanked my bag. I screamed at once. The person ran incredibly fast, weaving through the crowd. Only then did I remember that we were in the Takadanobaba area. It really wasn’t very safe here.
Mr. Daniel didn’t wait at all before chasing after the thief. He quickly disappeared from my sight. I waited anxiously in the same spot.
Before long, he came back with my bag, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Here...” He handed me my small handbag. Thankfully, everything was still inside. Otherwise, I would have been in serious trouble.
“Thank you so much. I’m glad you got it back.” But then I noticed a fairly large smear of blood on his arm.
“Your arm?!”
“It’s nothing. I didn’t see that he had a weapon. He managed to surprise me. That little bastard needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Should we go to a clinic?” Was the wound deep? I was too frightened by the sight of blood. But he had still been able to run.
“It’s fine. I always carry a first-aid kit. It’s a shallow cut, and my hotel is actually nearby. I’ll just go back...”
“Then let me help you bandage it.” I genuinely felt responsible.
“Miss Kanna, you don’t have to trouble yourself. I can—”
“It’s no trouble.” I cut him off and took his hand. It still seemed to be bleeding a little, so I pulled out the tissues I carried and pressed them against the wound. He showed me the way, and it turned out his hotel was only a few minutes away on foot.
“Are there any other injuries?” We arrived at his room, and he took his medical kit from the cabinet.
“No. This happened because I didn’t see the weapon in his hand in that dark corner. He managed to hit me, but only once.” The bloodstain was fairly large, but the bleeding seemed to have stopped.
“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“No, it’s stopped, and it isn’t deep...” He opened his shirt. My eyes were immediately captivated by what I saw. His body was incredible. For a moment, I simply stood there staring at him. His build was amazing. Look at those abs... Oh, my eyes. Maybe he practiced martial arts too.
“I need to clean myself up before I bandage the wound...” I came to my senses after staring far too openly and quickly helped him take off his shirt. He said it was fine, but he still seemed to be in pain.
“No, it’s stopped, and it isn’t deep...” He opened his shirt. My eyes were immediately captivated by what I saw. His body was incredible. For a moment, I simply stood there staring at him. His build was amazing. Look at those abs... Oh, my eyes. Maybe he practiced martial arts too.
“I need to clean myself up before I bandage the wound...” I came to my senses after staring far too openly and quickly helped him take off his shirt. He said it was fine, but he still seemed to be in pain.
“It’s all right... It’s only a minor injury. I’ll clean the wound, and then I can bandage it myself. I’m imposing on you by keeping you here... You should go home.” He probably felt uncomfortable with me being there.
“It’s all right. I’ll help you, Mr. Tan. It must be difficult to tie the bandage yourself when it’s that high up.”
He left me there and went into the bathroom. I waited quietly on the sofa. Not long afterward, he came out with his body clean and wearing a sleeveless shirt.
“I’m sorry if this is inappropriate.” He came out wearing shorts. Now I could really enjoy looking at him. He must have trained often. Chasing that thief had been easy for him, and his body was beautifully defined.
“It’s all right, Mr. Tan. Let me help you.” I quickly took an antiseptic gauze pad and cut it before covering the frightening-looking cut with sterile gauze. Then I took a bandage and wrapped his arm securely. My fingers occasionally brushed his skin, and my face grew hot with all the thoughts running through my head.
“Is it tight enough?” I wasn’t very used to doing this. I hoped I had done it correctly.
“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you, Mr. Tan. If you hadn’t helped me, I would have lost my bag.” He only smiled.
“Oh my goodness, I didn’t offer you anything to drink.” He patted his forehead in a comical gesture. I couldn’t help smiling.
“It’s all right. I’m fine... I’ll leave you to rest, Mr. Tan. Thank you for having dinner with me tonight.”
“I’m the one who should feel honored...” He smiled at me. Once again, my heart began to race. I had to take this opportunity.
“Um... next time you come to Kyoto, please let me know. Maybe we could talk again. I mean, not at a teahouse...” I didn’t want him to think he had to pay to talk to me. That was what I meant. I was willing to spend time with him after all this...
“Oh...” He probably wondered why I was saying that. “Of course. Maybe we can talk sometime.” But then he brushed it off, assuming I only wanted to invite him to chat.
I supposed he thought it was impossible for a young woman like me to be interested in a special relationship with someone nearly fifteen years older. Then again, I could have told him that I didn’t like men my own age because they could be too explosive sometimes. Besides, most of my clients and our guests were already older.
“May I call you sometime, Mr. Tan?” He looked at me because I had dared to raise the stakes. Was I crazy? Why was I being this bold? But if I didn’t, he would simply forget me... I had to take this opportunity.
“Of course...” Although he didn’t seem entirely convinced, perhaps I had said enough.
“Then I’ll be going... You don’t need to walk me out. Thank you again.” I stood and bowed to him.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.” I looked at him and smiled for a moment before turning away.
A smile spread across my lips. I was allowed to call him... Maybe I could talk with him again sometime.
That night came to an end, and I never regretted taking my chance. He didn’t mind me calling him. So I would call him later.
At the very least, I could send him a message.
I had already begun wondering whether we might meet again.