Chapter 49-

OSAKA

Mika was sitting at the corner table of Aya’s shop ,reading a book she bought from the nearest bookstore.It was almost 7 pm and the crowd had lessen since everyone is heading home that time.

Aya : Here,have some green tea.You love them dont you?

Takeru : Im gonna go out to get some drinks alright Aya!

Aya : Go ahead!No worries Yabuki and Aiko are here!

Mika : Takeru is sure being a very good husband to you Aya .

Aya : I doubt I can be any happier with any other guys

Mika : I cant wait to see little Aya now(laughing)

Aya : one day Mika one day!

Mika : And make sure I am the second to know about your pregnancy (laughing)

Yabuki : Aya-san,a customer accidentally left this.

Aya : Put it on the counter top Yabuki.The customer would come again tomorrow  for it.Dont worry

Yabuki : Alright Aya-san (smiles)

Mika : This would be --

Aya : This is Yabuki and the one with the other one is Aiko.Both of them are my mother’s neighbour’s children. They are so good in cooking that sometimes I don’t even have to cook at all.I attend to the customers,most of the time.

Mika : Yabuki is the brother?

Aya : Aiko is the elder one.Yabuki is 19 this year.Aiko is 21.Their mother works at the hospital as a nurse and their father is a technician. They love to cook so I offered them to work here and they happily took that offer.(smiles)

Mika :Yabuki sure is very tall.

Aya : Indeed......What is your height again Yabuki!?

Yabuki : 185 cm Aya-san.

Mika : Damn,he is tall.

Yabuki smiled at Mika and Aya as he was tidying up the table after the customers left.

Aya : Closing time as usual at 8 today.But since thereis no customer today,why don’t we close early!

Mika : About what,30 minutes early?It’s already 7.30 Aya (grins)

Aya : Alright,clean up Aiko!Yabuki!We are closing!

Aiko : Closing early today?

Aya : Yes yes,you guys are going home early today!

Yabuki : Will that be okay Aya-san?

Aya : Yes no worries.IM going out with Mika tonight.You guys can just finish what is left to be done and go home alright?

Yabuki :Thank you so much Aya-san!*bowing

Aiko : Alright !Yabuki,clean faster!MOVE MOVE!!!!

Mika and Aya laughed as Aiko and Yabuki quickly sweep the floor and arrange everything in a flash after Aya said they can go back early today.

UPSTAIRS

Aya : You are ready?

Mika : Yes yes I am.Wait,let me tie my hair for a while

Aya : It’s gonna be cold,wear a shawl around your neck!

Mika : Wait,I don’t think I bought one yesterday…

Aya : Wait,I’ll go get mine.I have extra.

Aya went to her room and return to Mika’s room with a red shawl in her hands.

Aya : It goes well with your winter coat.Told you the blue is so nice*winks

Mika quickly tie her hair into a high ponytail and wrap the red muffler around her neck.She checked herself for the last time infront of the mirror before leaving

OUTSIDE

Mika : So,where are you taking me ?

Aya : Remember what we used to do everytime we are done with our exams?

Mika :What we used to do…?

Aya:  Okonomi-

Mika : yaki!Okonomiyaki(grins)

Aya : yes!I remembered we ate too much till we actually fell asleep at the shop and Keiko had to wake us up!

Mika : I remember that one!oh god,how can I forgot about that one.I guess,this is a good time to visit Keiko?

Aya : And to Keiko’s shop we shall go!

SHIN-OSAKA SHINKANSEN STATION

Caroline : (slumps herself on the chair)

Haruna : Finally,we are here.Oh god I thought we are not gonna make it.

Caroline : 3 hours plus of freezing in the train I thought I was gonna die.Alright,where the heck is the waiter?

Haruna :Who was the one who insisted we took the bullet train?

Caroline : Was it me?

Haruna : Well,at least we got to dine here.I love their hot chocolate!

Caroline : Alright,lets order now now now.

Haruna : Im gonna order two of their hot chocolate.

Caroline : Order everything on the menu! (laughing)

KEIKO’s OKONOMIYAKI SHOP

Keiko : I haven’t seen you guys for years!

Aya : Don’t you miss us?(laughing)

Keiko : My treat tonight! Order anything you want!

Mika : Are you serious Keiko?

Keiko : Come on girls,you girls are my regulars years back.Having you girls here makes me so happy now!

Aya : Where is your mother?

Keiko : She is at home.Taking care of my daughter

Mika : How old is she now?

Keiko : Turning 5 this year!

AYa : I miss her chubby red cheek back then.

Mika : Tsubasa is all grown up eh Keiko.

Keiko : Well,she will be expecting a little brother now..

Mika :…little brother?

Aya : Are you ssaying--

Mika and Aya : You are pregnant now!?

Keiko : Yes! 4 months already!

Mika : How come you don’t look pregnant at all?

Keiko : I guess I am just that skinny that you cant see the baby bump yet.Same thing happened when I was carrying Tsubasa.

Mika : Where is your husband?

Suddenly a black haired middle aged man came out from behind the short curtains dividing the dining section and the kitchen .It was Chiyu,Keiko's husband.Chiyu and Keiko owns the shop and they had been married for almost 10 years.Chiyu worked as a police man before retiring to help Keiko with the shop.

Chiyu : Someone asked for me?(laughing)

Keiko : Come here!

Chiyu : I remember you two,you were the one who accidentally slept here few years back?With the books and all your papers everywhere... and everything.I remember!

Aya and Mika : (laughing)

Keiko : Chiyu remembers everything

Chiyu : Aya and Mika right? Or wait,was it Misa?

Mika : Mika Chiyu-san.Mika.

Aya : So,are you still working as a police Chiyu?

Chiyu : No,no of course not. Keiko is pregnant now,so I think it’s better for me to stop and work here instead. Aya-san,how is your husband?

Aya  : He is fine,really really fine(smiles)

Keiko : (laughing) Alright,alright,Lets get back to work Chiyu. Ask Hiori to bring their order !

Mika : Thank you Keiko!

Mika started making the okonomiyaki while Aya is talking on the phone with takeru who called her a while ago

Mika : Whats wrong?

Aya : It was Takeru.He said someone came,wait,two people came asking for me at the shop just now.

Mika : Who?

Aya : Takeru forgot to ask for their name but they said the girls are from Tokyo.

Mika : Wait,Tokyo?

Aya :….Wait a minute…

Mika : Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Aya : Haruna-san?

Mika : It could be her?

Aya : But Takeru said there were two of them

Mika : It could be Caroline.

Aya : Caro…who?

Mika : Caroline.The one who came to your shop with Haruna years back.

Aya : Wait,who?

Mika : Do you remember the tall girl with blue eyes, red hair?Wait,she had blonde hair that time

Aya : Is she the one who dresses up like a gyaru?

Mika : Exactly!

Aya : Oh that !Caroline!The French girl!

Mika : Yes,the French girl you may say.(laughing)

Aya : It could be them,shouldn’t you turn on your phone now?

Mika : Not,just yet.I don’t want them calling me while I savor this delicious okonomiyaki.(inhaling)

Aya : Smells so nice…

Mika : Alright,its done!