While traveling, it goes without saying that you have to taste the local specialties! Without any hesitation, I take Hideki with me to the booths in the food area.
In the hands of the booth owner, it doesn't take long for common ingredients like eggs, starch, white sugar, and water to become a golden round cake. The sweet smell brings out the glutton in me and makes my stomach growl unceremoniously.
[player]"Sanbunian, or non-stick imperial pudding"? What a funny name...
[Hideki Akechi]Haha, the name of this local snack implies that it won't stick to the plate, chopsticks, or your teeth when you eat it.
[Hideki Akechi]According to the legends, an emperor passing through this area in ancient times tasted this dessert at the home of a local official. He thought it had a smooth and pleasant texture and just the right balance of sweetness and saltiness, so he gave this dish this name and made it an imperial cuisine.
[player]An imperial cuisine? Then I simply must try it! Hmm... What's this taste... It seems a little... fishy and salty?
To describe the taste with one word is somewhat inaccurate as a hint of a spicy fishy taste spread in my mouth at first, followed by a mellow and fragrant aftertaste.
[Hideki Akechi]Hmm... That should be the deep-fried fish skin you're tasting.
[player]That's also a local specialty?
[Hideki Akechi]That's right. After it is marinated in a special way, a mandarin fish is washed and dried before it is deep fried with a special sauce. Although it smells quite special, the meat is extremely smooth and tender, and it has a unique taste.
[Hideki Akechi]In the past, when fishmongers wanted to transport their fish inland to sell them, they would spray lightly salted water on the fresh fish when loading them to prevent them from going bad. That's the origin of this dish.
No matter which booth I stop at, Hideki seems to know something about the snacks they are selling. In addition to being able to briefly explain the preparation method of each snack, he can even tell me related legends and stories. He is an amazing food commentator.
There's no way that an ordinary food enjoyer will know so much about these dishes. After listening to Hideki's explanation of another local snack, I express my doubts.
[player]Hideki, you even know about this?!
[Hideki Akechi]Well, actually...
[Elderly Man]Oh, if it isn't the well-behaved boy from the Akechi family?
Before Hideki can answer me, an elderly man who suddenly appears next to the food stall interrupts him and pats him on the shoulder very naturally before passing over two piping hot skewers of meat that are fresh off the grill.
[Elderly Man]Is this your friend? Here, take these skewers on the house. You don't come back often, so you should eat more while you're here!
[Hideki Akechi]You've been saying that to me every year since I was a child... PLAYER, let me introduce this man to you. This elderly man lives next to my family house. This first-class chef is the owner of this snack bar.
[Elderly Man]Hahaha, you flatter me. I am no first-class chef. This snack bar is still running thanks to people like you who are willing to patronize my business.
[player]Well-behaved boy...?
[Elderly Man]I'm referring to Hideki. Compared with my naughty grandchild, Hideki has always been so well-behaved since he was a child, so I call him that.
[Elderly Man]It feels like it was just yesterday. You were only this tall at that time, and you were completely covered by the countertop when you came to help your grandma with the shopping. I heard a voice but couldn't see anyone... I thought I encountered a supernatural event in broad daylight.
[player]Hahaha, so something that interesting happened in the past.
[Hideki Akechi]Ahem, that's all from a long time ago... We'll stop holding you up from your business for now. I'll visit you at home a little later.
[Elderly Man]Good boy. I heard some acrobats are having a performance here today. You can take your friend over to watch.
Seeing that we're chatting about interesting things that happened when he was a child, Hideki interjects just in time. The elderly man also stops talking about this. He smiles and waves and even recommends another place for us to go.
Hideki heaves a sigh of relief. As we're preparing to leave, the elderly man leans toward me and "whispers" in my ear.
[Elderly Man]He's doing this on purpose because he doesn't want you to know about the embarrassing things that happened in his childhood, hahaha.
[Elderly Man]A few days ago, he came to me especially to ask about the local snacks, so I guessed he was thinking of showing someone important to him around the town. That person must be you.
[Elderly Man]Haha, this child thinks he can hide everything well, but once you get to know him, you'll realize that everything is so obvious.
[Hideki Akechi]Ahem, okay, we need to go to the next place now. We'll chat later.
The elderly man's "whispers" are really not whispers at all. I see a flush of red spread from the tip of Hideki's ears to his cheeks. Finally, at this moment, he pulls me away from the booth like we're running away from it, and the elderly man's hearty laughter follows us all the way.
After leaving the food area, on the way to the entertainment area to watch performances, Hideki and I tacitly say nothing. We walk slowly, one behind the other.
[player]I...
[Hideki Akechi]I...
Just as I open my mouth he turns his head like he is about to say something to me, then we look each other in the eye and burst into laughter.
[Hideki Akechi]You don't need to take his words to heart.
[player]Why is that?
[Hideki Akechi]I don't want to give you any pressure. I... want you to just have fun today.
[player]Well, I really am having a lot of fun, but... He said you made a lot of preparations for someone important. That... shouldn't be me, who you happened to meet on the street by chance, right...?
I drag out the sound of my words on purpose. Sure enough, the red color I saw earlier returned to his cheeks again. It seems that this old town really is a place where he lets down his guard completely. He is so cute like this. If I don't take this opportunity to "bully" him a little, I feel like I won't get the chance to after he returns to One Han City and becomes that unpredictable young heir again.
[Hideki Akechi]PLAYER, I never realized you had such a wicked side to you. It seems that this trip really is a very "worthwhile adventure" because it has given us the chance to learn new things about each other.
The midsummer afternoon sun warms the breeze slightly, which makes the air between us warmer when it blows past our ears. Hideki seems alarmed. He clenches his fist with one hand and puts it next to his mouth, then he coughs lightly and turns around as if he doesn't want me to notice his slightly red cheeks.
[Hideki Akechi]I was thinking of inviting you to visit this town and have some fun, but I didn't expect I would run into you here, so I couldn't prepare for this trip as well as I was hoping to.
[Hideki Akechi]When I've prepared everything next time, I hope you will accept my invitation and come here to experience this place again. Is that okay?
[player]Sure.
With Hideki leading the way, we soon arrive at the entertainment area to watch performances. There are so many different types of folk arts to see, but it's a shame that I'm already exhausted after running around for so long already, so I can only sit on a bench by the road to rest.
[player]I can finally get some rest! Wow, it takes so much stamina just to tour around... I really envy the people who live in the area because they can come and experience something fun and different every day.
[Hideki Akechi]You're right, even this old town has such a lively block now.
[player]That sounds a little strange to me... Didn't you live in this old town in the past? Why does it sound like you're just as unfamiliar with this place as me?
[Hideki Akechi]Well... As I got older, I spent less and less time here, so I missed out on its changes.
As he speaks, Hideki points at the block in front of us.
[Hideki Akechi]In fact, until I went to university, this street was just a plain dirt road. There wasn't even an asphalt road here, and a thick layer of dust and sand rises whenever a car drives through it.
[Hideki Akechi]At that time, people used to set up a mahjong table under the pagoda tree at the intersection and invite others to play with them. Those who couldn't get a seat at the table would stand beside it and wait for the next game. They would even borrow chairs from the shops on the street when watching people play.
[player]It's a very warm scene.
[Hideki Akechi]Yeah, which is why the plan to develop this town didn't go well at first. Everyone was afraid that their peaceful days would be ruined and the town's original order would be lost.
[Hideki Akechi]However, when the whole world is developing rapidly, it's sometimes unavoidable to make choices you don't like. Just like this old town, which now looks completely different from how I remember it.
I look at the intersection of the block. A huge screen displaying a map of this scenic spot now occupies the quarter. The dilapidated small mahjong table is no longer there.
Hideki seems to be going through an emotional moment while looking at the bustling neighborhood. He also seems to be looking into the distant past at the same time.
[player]No matter how this old town changes, one thing is certain—the happiness in your memories will never fade away. Even if high-rise buildings are built here in the future, this old town will always be the same town that brings you happiness if you never forget its past appearance.
[player]Those beautiful, tranquil, and warm parts of your past will always belong exclusively to you. They will always be memories that belong exclusively to you, Hideki.
[Hideki Akechi]Memories that belong exclusively to me...
Hideki repeats my words under his breath, then his eyes become brighter.
[Hideki Akechi]You're right. I already have many things that are worth protecting. I shouldn't obsess over the past.
[player]Yeah! And if we keep creating new happy memories, when we look back, our memories will be full of happy scenes.
[Hideki Akechi]In that case... let's go to this old town's only mahjong dojo to have an exciting match.
[player]Huh? Don't you think you're changing the topic too suddenly...?
[Hideki Akechi]I want PLAYER to also have beautiful memories of this old town, and there's no question that mahjong can make you happy.
[Hideki Akechi]Don't underestimate the mahjong experts of this old town though. If you don't pay attention, they take all your points.
[player]I see you're egging me on. It's not very wise but it's working! Let's go to the mahjong dojo. I'm not going to do my best!
When I recall my trip to this old town many years later, I remember Hideki's smile and the extremely rare True Nine Gates on the mahjong table.
Like Hideki said, we all gained irreplaceable exclusive memories.
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