After we finished loading the last of the boxes, the truck that would take the produce to town finally arrived. The engine came to a gentle stop with a soft rumble, kicking up a bit of dust from the road.
When I saw the driver get out, I couldn't help but be a little surprised... He wasn't the older man I had imagined based on how Mr. Kazuo talked about him. He was a young guy, athletic build, maybe a little taller than me. He had the confident aura of someone who gets along with everyone.
He walked up to Mr. Kazuo and greeted him with familiarity, giving a slight bow.
"Morning, Mr. Kazuo! Everything ready for the delivery?"
"Of course, Hikaru. Right on time, as always," Mr. Hanabira replied with a smile.
The young man then looked at me with curiosity.
"Hey, you must be new around here, huh?"
"You could say that," I replied, trying to sound calm. "I'm just passing through, probably leaving in a few days. But it's nice to meet you. I'm Haruki Kiryuu."
Upon hearing my last name, his expression shifted slightly. He furrowed his brow, thinking.
"Kiryuu...? That name sounds familiar… Oh, right. It's the same as that famous businessman who passed away recently. I saw it on the news."
Mr. Kazuo let out a small chuckle and patted me on the shoulder.
"Well, this boy happens to be that businessman's grandson."
"Huh? You're really that Kiryuu's grandson…?" Hikaru looked me up and down, clearly surprised. "Honestly, you don't really look like a farmer…"
I shrugged with a faint smile.
"I know. I've been hearing that a lot lately."
"Still, it's hard to believe... What's someone like you doing in a place like this?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Shouldn't you be in Tokyo, surrounded by luxury and family and all that?"
I lowered my gaze a little, letting out a quiet breath.
"It might sound strange, but… let's just say life brought me here. And honestly, I'm glad it did. I've met amazing people… and for the first time in a long while, I feel at peace."
Hikaru watched me for a moment longer before nodding slowly.
"Wow… that's pretty deep. I'm glad to hear it, Haruki. Well, if you're up for it, maybe after the sale we can grab something to drink in town. It's not every day you get to meet the grandson of a business legend, you know?"
"Sure, sounds good," I replied, feeling a bit more relaxed.
Mr. Kazuo crossed his arms and nodded proudly.
"Who would've thought... destiny has a funny way of bringing people together."
"So then…" Hikaru said, glancing at the boxes, "this is everything for today, Mr. Kazuo?"
"Yes, that's all for now. Thanks for coming to help us. I don't know what I'd do without your support," Mr. Hanabira replied, genuinely grateful.
"No worries," Hikaru said with a big smile. "You've been like a father to me. I'll always come help when you need it."
I stayed silent for a moment, watching the scene in front of me. Those sincere, heartfelt words reminded me of my grandfather… and a faint sting of nostalgia pierced my chest.
"All right," Mr. Kazuo added. "How about we finish loading these up, then have some breakfast before heading to town?"
"Sounds perfect," I said, lifting a box into the truck.
"Yeah, that way I can also chat a bit with Ailany and say hi to Mrs. Miyako," Hikaru added cheerfully.
Chat with Ailany...? I repeated in my mind as I placed another box in the back. Are they close? Or maybe…?
The doubt hit me like a splash of cold water.
Is he her boyfriend...? No, that doesn't make sense… Ailany agreed to come with me to search for the village of Uke Mochi—something a girl wouldn't normally do if she had a serious relationship… right? Maybe they're just childhood friends or something… Ugh, I hate this uncertainty…
I clenched my teeth silently. I couldn't ask her directly—that'd be too weird… I'd have to wait for her to say something on her own. Yeah, maybe I'm just overthinking this…
With that storm of thoughts swirling in my head, we kept loading the boxes one by one until everything was packed.
"Well, that's the last one," Hikaru said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
I, on the other hand, felt a bit embarrassed since I hadn't helped much, so I spoke in a hesitant voice.
"To be honest… I don't think I was much help. You two did almost everything. I barely carried a couple of boxes. At this rate, I should be ashamed."
"Don't worry," said Mr. Hanabira calmly as he carefully closed the truck's rear door. "Hikaru and I are already used to this kind of work. We've been doing it for years, so it's normal that we move a bit faster. You're just getting used to all this. There's no need to feel bad, Haruki."
"Mr. Kazuo's right," Hikaru added, rolling his shoulders. "The important thing is that we're done now, and we can finally eat."
I scratched my head awkwardly, forcing a smile.
"Ha… thanks. But if we break it down by percentage, I did like 10%, Mr. Kazuo maybe 30%… and you carried over 50%, Hikaru. Honestly, it's a bit embarrassing."
"That's part of the learning process too," Mr. Hanabira said with a gentle laugh.
With that, we left the truck behind and headed back to the house. As we entered through the back door, the aroma of freshly cooked food greeted us like a warm welcome.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Miyako waited with a serene smile, and Ailany was setting the last dishes on the table. She was now wearing a light summer blouse and a simple skirt, her hair still a bit messy but clipped back with a floral pin. When she saw me, her eyes met mine for a brief moment… then quickly looked away, as if trying to hide her expression.
"Perfect timing," Mrs. Miyako said. "Everything's ready. Come on, sit down before it gets cold."
"Smells amazing, Mrs. Hanabira," Hikaru said as he eagerly took a seat. "I missed your cooking."
"Thank you, Hikaru. I hope you'll like the miso rice I made today," she replied warmly, serving him a bit more.
Meanwhile, I sat across from Ailany. For some reason, I felt more nervous than usual. Maybe it was the homey atmosphere… or maybe it was because, in that moment, she looked different. Closer. Maybe even a little prettier.
She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye and, without anyone else noticing, whispered softly:
"Did you sleep well last night, Haru?"
"Yeah, though… I think I dreamed about heavy boxes and dirt," I joked, trying to hide my awkwardness.
She let out a quiet laugh and lowered her gaze.
"Maybe your body's already starting to adapt to farm life."
"You think so…?"
"Maybe. Though you still lack stamina," she said, taking a sip of her tea, a faint smile on her lips.
I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded and focused on my meal. But inside, my heart was beating a little faster than usual.
The food was served, and the atmosphere felt warm—almost like we were a real family sharing a peaceful summer morning. Like I said, I was sitting across from Ailany, while Hikaru took the seat beside her.
"Itadakimasu!" we all said in unison before we began to eat.
Just a few seconds later, Hikaru looked at Ailany with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, do you still sleep in like you did back in high school? I remember you'd always run to the station with toast in your mouth every morning," he said, laughing.
Ailany puffed her cheeks slightly and nudged him under the table.
"Hikaru! You don't have to go spilling all that in front of everyone. I'm not that clumsy girl anymore."
"Not anymore? I literally saw you trip over your own shadow at the market the other day," he said, amused.
She let out a laugh and shook her head.
"That was because you accidentally bumped into me with a box of fruit! Don't put it all on me!"
"Oh, so you do remember. I was starting to worry about your memory," he added with a wink.
The way they talked was… uncomfortably natural. They laughed, interrupted each other, shared memories like they had years of history between them. That kind of connection doesn't just happen overnight.
I just watched in silence, stirring my rice without realizing it. The scene in front of me was so familiar to them… yet so foreign to me. I didn't know why, but something strange began to stir in my chest. It wasn't sadness or anger exactly… just a quiet weight. Something like discomfort.
"By the way, have you thought about what we talked about the other day?" Hikaru suddenly asked, looking at her with a more serious tone.
"Huh? You mean about the community center project?"
"Yes. They told me they're still looking for volunteers, and I thought you could join. You've always been good at organizing things."
Ailany lowered her gaze for a moment, thoughtful.
"I had forgotten about that... but if they're still open, maybe I can help a little. Although, with the trip with Haruki, I'm not sure I can fully commit..."
Hearing my name, I looked up. She turned toward me as if she had just remembered I was there.
"Ah, Haruki, do you mind if we talk about that later? About the trip, I mean."
"N-no, of course not," I replied quickly, a bit thrown off.
She smiled and turned her attention back to Hikaru.
I still didn't understand why I felt like this. It was just a conversation between friends… wasn't it?
But deep down, a small voice had started whispering: "What if there's something more between them?"
I subtly shook my head, trying to push the thought away. It didn't make sense. I barely knew Ailany… and yet, part of me didn't want to see her so comfortable with someone else.
I said nothing. I just poured myself a bit more tea, as if that could drown the small silent storm forming in my chest.
Breakfast continued between laughter and homemade flavors. Mrs. Miyako had prepared miso rice, grilled fish, and some delicious pickled vegetables. Ailany ate calmly, while Hikaru kept talking, always with that spark in his eyes.
"Ailany, are you still as picky with pickles as ever?" he asked with a smile, picking one up with his chopsticks and dropping it on her plate.
"I still can't stand them!" she said with a slight grimace. "You always give them to me as if I'm suddenly going to like them by magic."
"One never gives up hope," Hikaru replied, then returned to his own meal.
I smiled, but deep down, that strange discomfort still lingered. Maybe... I didn't really belong here?
Just then, Hikaru turned toward Ailany with curiosity.
"By the way, I heard you mention something about a trip with Haruki… what's that about?"
Ailany swallowed a bite and wiped her mouth with a napkin before answering.
"Oh, right… we're going to look for the old village of Uke Mochi. My family comes from there, and I found some clues thanks to my grandfather. Haruki's going to accompany me."
Hikaru's expression changed, though he tried to cover it with a smile. His eyebrows lifted and his gaze grew slightly tense.
"You… and him? Just the two of you?"
"Well… yes," she replied, a little confused by his reaction. "It's something my family always wanted to do, and Haruki offered to help. It's an important trip for me."
Hikaru placed his chopsticks on the edge of his plate, crossing his arms with a smile that seemed a little forced.
"Wow… I didn't know you two were that close to go on a trip together." He turned to me with a half-smile. "How thoughtful of you, Haruki. Going with someone on a journey like that is no small thing."
"Well…" I cleared my throat. "It just felt like the right thing to do. Besides, since I'm already here, I thought I could help however I can."
"Right, right…" he muttered, lowering his gaze for a moment. Then he turned back to Ailany. "So, when do you plan to leave?"
"As soon as we gather some money from selling the crops," she replied with a calm smile. "Maybe in a few days."
"I see…" Hikaru murmured, though his eyes said something else. It was as if he wasn't sure whether he was more upset, surprised, or disappointed.
As for me, I still didn't fully understand what I was feeling. I just knew I didn't like the way he looked at her. Or how he talked about "us" like I was an intruder in a story that had already been written.
Why does this bother me so much...? I thought, biting into the fish without really tasting it.
Mrs. Miyako broke the silence with a kind smile.
"Well, well, it seems this summer will be full of adventures. How exciting to have young people with so many dreams at the table!"
Everyone nodded, but the quiet tension between Hikaru and me was starting to show… though Ailany didn't seem to notice.
Breakfast went on with conversation, laughter, and the soft clinking of chopsticks against bowls. Mrs. Miyako had served a full Japanese breakfast: freshly made rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and a few pickled vegetables. It wasn't anything fancy, but it had that comforting homemade flavor.
I ate in silence, watching how Ailany and Hikaru talked like they'd known each other forever. Their jokes, the little glances they shared, even the way they spoke so naturally… I couldn't deny that it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Though I didn't know why. Or rather… I didn't want to admit it.
"Ah! I almost forgot how good your soup is, Mrs. Miyako," Hikaru said, taking his last spoonful with a wide smile.
"I'm glad you liked it," she replied warmly. "You know you're always welcome, Hikaru."
Ailany looked at him with a soft smile, and I gently tightened my grip on the chopsticks. I didn't know why there was a sting in my chest… but it was there.
Finally, we all finished eating. I placed my chopsticks on the small ceramic holder and leaned forward slightly, as is customary.
"Gochisousama deshita," I said quietly.
"Gochisousama!" the others echoed almost in unison.
For a moment, the room fell silent, broken only by the sound of birds outside the house and the soft rustling of the wind.
I looked out the window. The sky was clear, and the day was just beginning.
A new chapter was being written in my life… one where nothing was as I expected, and emotions had begun to tangle inside me, like the branches of the trees in the countryside.
But it was still early. And the day still had many pages left to turn.