1Chika was never a morning person, but now that she worked as a nakai in her family's ryokan she had become used to waking up at 6:00 am to prepare for the start of her workday.
Chika hazily slapped the button on her alarm clock and forced herself to sit up in her bed, throwing the comfort of her warm blankets and stuffed animals off in the process. A chill made its way down Chika's spine as she placed her feet on the cold bedroom floor.
It was a necessary evil. She knew if she allowed herself just five more minutes of delightful sleep, she would be late in preparing for breakfast service. Somehow those extra five minutes always felt more rewarding than a whole night's sleep combined, however the wrath of her mother, the ryokan's okami, and the scolding she would receive from her two older sisters was not something she wished to experience again any time soon.
After a quick shower, Chika pulled on her yukata, carefully smoothing out any wrinkles. She tied the obijime snugly around her waist before working on a small braid by her left ear. She finished her braid with an orange ribbon to match her outfit, slid on her geta and made her way to the kitchen.
A symphony of delicious smells wafted towards Chika as she watched her two sisters working diligently on breakfast for the inn's guests.
"Ah, Chika-chan don't just stand there, come help us!" Mito, the middle Takami sister, called, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"Chika-chan, good morning. I made some onigiri. Have one and then help us set the table." Shima added with a gentle smile.
"Good morning! Thank you onee-chan!"
Chika grabbed an onigiri from the table and took a bite, the sour taste of umeboshi waking up her senses.
"Geez, Chika you didn't have to inhale the thing." Mito teased.
"Eheheh, just didn't want to hold you guys up!"
"We're almost done, you can start bringing the food to the table." Shima instructed.
Breakfast at the Tochiman Inn was said to be one of the highlights of their guests' stay. A generous variety of foods were laid out at times chosen by each individual, creating a personalized and caring touch. Guests also had the option of eating meals in their rooms for a more relaxed, private experience.
Chika brought rice, miso soup, tsukemono, grilled fish, cold tofu, eggs (boiled in the ryokan's onsen), salad, vegetables, natto and hot tea to the low-set table in multiple trips. She finished laying out the dishes just in time as the guests started in from their rooms. Chika greeted them and led them to their seats before taking her leave to help clean up in the kitchen.
Mito and Shima had left to deliver room trays while Chika began washing empty bowls and silverware. She found this task a bit cathartic as she was able to lose herself in her thoughts for a moment.
Her mind drifted back to her childhood where her only worry seemed to be finishing her homework on time, so she could go play with her oldest friend, Kanan.
Kanan.
Memories made their way into Chika's head as she scrubbed the dishes. She remembered the pair relaxing in the onsen when guests weren't around after a long day of playing baseball on the beach. She remembered their countless sleepovers filled w laughter and pillow fights, which usually ended in Mito banging on the wall to keep quiet. And she remembered crying on Kanan's shoulder when her sister took the last pudding from the fridge.
"Hellooooo, earth to Chika!" Mito called, snapping Chika back to the present.
"Oh, sorry Mito-chan!" Chika replied with a wink.
"The guests are gathering their belongings to leave; will you show them out while we tidy up?"
"I'm on it!"
After helping bring the guests' suitcases to their cars and thanking them immensely for their stay, Chika made her way back inside. She always felt a sense of warmth when her guests left smiling and content with their experience.
Now her duty was to help clean the empty rooms for the next incoming guests. Chika hummed the tune of "Yume no Tobira" while she worked, stripping the futons of their sheets and throwing them in the laundry basked with a quick sashay.
Time seemed to pass more quickly when she played songs in her head, almost like an internal playlist. Chika swept the floor, using her broom as a microphone as she made her way across the floor.
"Yes! Jibun wo shinjite minna wo shinjite
Ashita ga matterun da yo ikanakucha"
She sang under her breath accompanied by a smile.
Chika finished sweeping, dusted the furniture, cleaned the windows, vacuumed, fluffed the pillows and shook out the futons.
"Ah, all done!" She celebrated to herself, admiring her hard work.
She made her way back towards her room to take a short break.
"There are only a few guests coming this evening, we should have everything under control until then, Chika-chan." Shima called out.
"Eh?" Chika replied.
"It means you can have the afternoon off." Mito chimed in.
"R-really?"
"Yes, Chika-chan now go have fun before we change our minds!" Mito chided playfully.
Chika smiled and skipped towards her room to change into some more comfortable clothes. After rummaging through her closet for a while, she settled on a pair of yellow shorts and a blue collared blouse to go with them. She glanced in the mirror, smoothing out her bangs and tucking her shoulder-length hair behind her ears.
As she headed towards the entrance of the inn, Chika's mind began to wander back to her childhood and her time spent with Kanan.
"I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back before the guests arrive!" Chika called to her sisters in the adjacent room.
"You better be Chika-chan!" Mito replied
Chika giggled to herself as she passed Shiitake in her doghouse, stopping to give her a quick pat on the head.
A warm breeze ruffled Chika's coral hair as it passed by, beckoning her to the nearby shoreline. As Chika made her way down to the quaint beach, she recalled how grown up and independent she once felt when allowed to make the short trip alone as a child.
Once she reached her destination, Chika kicked her sandals off and playfully scuffed up sand as she trotted over to the pier and the neighboring dock. She let her legs dangle over the ledge, almost tempted to throw caution to the wind and jump into the water below. When she closed her eyes, she swore she could hear foghorns in the distance signaling boats to the harbor.
It was only a three-minute ferry ride from the beach to Awashima, the small island where Kanan and her grandfather lived, but growing up Chika loved every minute spent out on the open water. As a child, Chika was even more daring and fearless than she was now, and never shied away from hanging off the boat's railing, much to the captain's dismay.
Her favorite part, though, was surprising her best friend with an unexpected visit. Chika's energetic and bubbly personality seemed to perfectly balance Kanan's calm, cool, maturity. Chika reminisced back to when she would run up to the waterline, excitedly tackling her friend in the sand. Kanan would always return the favor with a tight hug and a gentle pat on the head. In those days, they were inseparable.
The sky began to darken, slowly pulling Chika out of her daydream. She took a deep breath of salty air and exhaled slowly. As she made her way back towards the inn, she paused and crouched down in the sand. She traced a simple heart with her pointer finger.
"Shima-chan, Mito-chan, I'm back!" Chika announced as she dusted the sand off her feet at the door.
"We're in the kitchen!" Shima replied.
"Jeez, Chika what were you up to? Your hair's a mess!" Mito snorted.
"It's alright, we'll handle the guests. Chika-chan will you prepare for their welcome service?"
"That works for me!"
Chika did her best to brush her hair with her fingers, washed her hands and laid out several plates of traditional Japanese sweets with cups of warm, matcha tea. She heard Mito and Shima greet the guests in the nearby distance and made her way to her room, careful not to be caught in such a disheveled state.
Sigh
Chika plopped down on her bed and rolled onto her side, cuddling her shrimp pillow close. Many things had changed over the years, but Chika's room was not one of them. She glanced over at her µ's poster, still hanging on the wall.
"Oh, Honoka-san…what should I do? Show me the way!" Chika closed her eyes, somehow hoping for a sign.
But Chika knew the answer she was looking for. She unplugged her phone from the charger in the wall and scanned her thumbprint, unlocking it.
Click, click, click
Chika scrolled through her contacts, unsure as to why her heart began to pound. She paused on a name and clicked.
Kanan.
