“On the Road” — Part One

“Hey, Yamachan. You’re pretty late tonight.”

“Yeah, the meeting ran long. And I thought, by the time I got home, it’d be too late to start making dinner, so I decided to stop by.”

“What are you talking about, Yam-san?” Satoru cut in as he carried over a beer. “The boss has been saving this extra-fat horse mackerel for you. Wouldn’t let anyone else touch it.”

It was late, and only a few customers were scattered around the izakaya called Wagaya—“My Home.”

Satoru’s cheerful voice rang through the quiet room.

“Really? You did that for me, boss? That makes me happy. All right, then. Let’s start with a beer.”

“You got it!”

(As always, this place relaxes me.)

(Wagaya really does feel like home.)

...

After a few drinks and something to eat, Yamamoto began to relax.

“Whew... I’m tired today.”

“You do look tired. When you walked in, for a second I thought you were somebody else.”

“Really?”

“Really. Really, really. You’re not getting any younger, you know. You need to start taking better care of yourself.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right...”

Then Yamamoto noticed a man drinking alone in the corner.

“Hey, boss. Is that Mifune over there?”

“Yeah. Right. I meant to tell you, but I forgot. He came in.”

“He’s lost weight. I almost didn’t recognize him. When did he get here?”

“...About thirty minutes before you did, Yamachan.”

“Man, it’s been a long time.”

Yamamoto picked up his beer mug and stood.

“Boss, you mind if I move over there?”

“Of course not. Hey, Satoru! Take Yamachan’s stuff over to Mifune.”

“Roger that!”

...

“Mifune. Long time no see. How long has it been?”

“Ah, Yam-san. Six months, I guess. Since I came to Wagaya.”

“No, I mean the company. Have you been back there?”

“Not yet... I’m not really in any condition to work yet.”

“And yet you’re drinking.”

“Yeah.”

“...”

“Heh. Don’t tell me you’re going to lecture me, Yam-san.”

“Me? Lecture you? No way. Absolutely not.”

The two men laughed.

“So? How are you doing? Really?”

“Well... I can’t exactly say I’m doing well.”

“Should you even be drinking?”

“Probably not. But without this, being alive isn’t much fun.”

He looked down at his drink.

“...Just a little.”

“What did the doctor say?”

“‘If you don’t want to die, stop drinking.’”

“And you’re still... drinking?”

“Just a little. I don’t want to die either.”

“Just a little, huh... You’re still the same old rogue, Mifune.”

“Hahaha. But I was surprised when I collapsed.”

“Surprised?”

“Well... I say surprised, but suddenly the whole world tilted. It felt like someone had hit me in the head with a huge hammer...”

He paused.

“I remember trying to get up. That much, I remember.”

“And then?”

“Nothing. Everything went black...”

“Do you remember that clearly?”

“No. It’s more like... a faint memory.”

Mifune stared at his drink.

“A friend who was drinking with me said I suddenly stood up. He thought that was strange, and then, right after that, I fell backward—diagonally to the left, like I was bending away from him.”

“I don’t remember any of that.”

“But I think... I remember the feeling of my consciousness disappearing.”

“Hmm... I see. I heard you were in the hospital, but I had no idea something like that had happened.”

“...Yam-san. Do you have time tonight?”

“Yeah. No particular plans. Though I have to get up early tomorrow, so I probably shouldn’t stay too long.”

“Heh. That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Well, all right. If you say so...”

Mifune smiled.

Then he began to tell Yamamoto a strange story...

To be continued.