Chapter 35: The Ice Lady and the Restaurant of Memories

It took more than an hour to get to the Soleil Levant.

By the time we finally arrived at the station near the store, the sun had gone down and we could see stars in the night sky.

“We go right at the next corner, right?”

“Yeah.”

There was only silence as we walked down the main street, illuminated by the dazzling smiles of the couples on the street and the lights of the street lamps.

Before we got here, we praised each other for each other’s result in the final exam, but that was it.

We exchanged a few words to confirm the directions, but the rest of the time was mostly silent.

Fuyuka didn’t talk much, and I didn’t talk much either.

Still, why were we so tight-lipped about each other?

“Did you look up the directions?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing like that…”

A few more minutes of walking and we would reach our destination.

Not wanting to remain silent for much longer, I casually struck up a conversation.

The question contained a certain intention, maybe to confirm a small question.

And then it was quickly answered by Fuyuka’s words.

“I’ve been to Soleil Levant once when I was little.”

Fuyuka muttered with a downcast look. It surprised me, of course, but it was more than enough to convince me.

Since Fuyuka was so knowledgeable about Soleil Levant and wanted to go with me, I thought she must have some extraordinary feelings about it.

It was not the fine cuisine that caught her attention, but the name of the restaurant.

It was easy to guess that she had a reason for wanting to go to Soleil Levant, even if it meant breaking the hurdle of going out to eat with a boy on the holy night.

“I still remember it vividly, the street, the interior, the taste of the food and everything.”

“That’s great. It’s more than just having a good memory.”

“For me… it’s a precious memory of my family. I think that was why it left an impression.”

Her eyes showed a gentle hint of nostalgia as she pondered the memories of the distant past.

At the same time, her expression seemed somewhat gloomy.

Was it the darkness of the night, or was it the darkness of her heart that made it so?

I could predict that it was probably the latter.

Her expression darkened distinctly when she said the word family.

I remember a few times before when the same thing happened.

“…We’ll be there soon.”

 

“Yes, I think so.”

I thought about asking her a few details about her precious memories.

I had avoided asking about her past until now, but if it had anything to do with the store my parents ran, I thought it would be okay to ask.

But in the end, I said something else.

I was about to say something then she suddenly spoke in response.

“I hope the soup hasn’t changed…”

I heard such a voice beside me in the midst of Christmas Eve.

Perhaps she was talking to herself.

She didn’t have her usual respectful and polite tone of voice.

“I don’t think it’s changed.”

“Did you hear me…?”

 

“Well, I’m right next to you.”

She was embarrassed and her cheeks turned red, which naturally made me smile.

The main street was filled with young men and women, and the distance between us naturally drew closer as we walked along the street at night.

Our shoulders touched when we swayed a little in this distance, it was nerve racking even if the situation around us made it so.

“The soup is the only fixed dish in the course. It was the first dish my mother and father made together, so they have a special attachment to it.”

“So there was such a story behind that soup…”

“Isn’t that great? You get to eat another egg dish you love.”

I teased her, in an attempt to calm my heart.

The soup at Soleil Levant was an egg-based dish.

After porridge, egg rolls, and omelet rice, I wondered if she liked egg dishes that much.

Surely, she would puff out her cheeks at being treated like a child, or so I thought.

“…Yes, I’m very happy.”

Contrary to my expectations, she gave me a straightforward affirmation and a gentle smile.

That smile should have been familiar by now, but it confused my mind time and time again.

“Ah, I can see it now.”

Her lips twitched again as she pointed to the signboard a little further ahead.

Asahi felt his body getting warmer as he watched Fuyuka quickening her steps towards the destination.