Read Tokyo Hearts: A Japanese Love Story Online
Authors: Renae Lucas-Hall
Tags: #Tokyo Hearts, #Tokyo, #Japan, #Japanese love story, #Renae Lucas-Hall, #Renae Lucas, #Renae Hall, #Japanese Fiction, #Kyoto, #love story, #young adult romance, #romance
Tokyo Hearts: A Japanese Love Story (28 page)
‘Yes. I’m definitely not moving to Kyoto,’ she said. ‘I know that I originally really wanted to live and work there, but not anymore.’
‘Well, I’m glad all that’s changed,’ said Takashi.
They sat for a couple of minutes quietly taking this all in. Takashi wanted to give her the space to talk about everything.
‘I need to tell you the truth, Takashi, because you’ve always been honest with me,’ said Haruka after a while. ‘Initially, I really wanted to visit Jun in Kyoto and my mother was just as keen for me to go there and meet up with his family. I can also tell you that we were stupidly even expecting a marriage proposal, but as soon as we met his family again, we knew that we’d made a big mistake. His family was mean and horrible to me and my mother, and I felt that we were conned into believing something that just did not exist.’
‘You know that she’s always been so keen for me to have everything that money could buy. It’s been a lot more difficult for my mother since my father became ill, and even though he’s recovered, I think that my mother and I were trying to believe in a fairy tale.’ Haruka paused for a moment and then looked straight into Takashi’s eyes and continued, ‘My mother and I were so impressed by his family’s money and their connections with other wealthy people that we couldn’t see how horrible they were.’
Takashi continued to look up at the top corner of the wall. His head was starting to feel a little bit like soft meringue. He continued to clench his shoulders.
‘Honestly,’ Haruka continued. ‘When my mother met Jun’s mother again, they didn’t get along at all. As usual, his mother was haughty and condescending. I think she has much grander ideas for her son and Jun’s just a thief and a liar.’
Takashi turned his eyes towards Haruka. They were moistening with joy. He felt his face turning red. He didn’t know if he was embarrassed for doubting Haruka or just plain happy. He dared not utter a word just yet. He wanted her to finish talking. Takashi also wanted to feel more secure about whether she wanted to go out with him and him alone.
‘So,’ said Haruka, her eyes now sparkling, ‘we returned to Tokyo after visiting various temples and gardens, and I realised how special you are. You have to believe me when I tell you that I’ve always thought that you’re a wonderful person and now I know you’re much nicer than Jun and I should never have gone out with him. I don’t care if we have to struggle with money, because I love you and we’ll make it work somehow.’
Takashi smiled at her and reached out to take her hand because he was so happy that she’d just told him she loved him. ‘I love you, too, and what you’ve just said has made me very happy,’ he told her.
‘Good. Then we’re okay?’ she asked, squeezing his hand.
‘We’re okay,’ he said as he drew her closer to him. ‘We’re better than okay and you don’t have to worry, because I’ve just inherited a huge sum of money. The only sad part is that my grandmother, who left this fortune to me, has just passed away.’
‘Oh no – I’m so sorry to hear that,’ said Haruka.
Takashi adored her even more at that point for being more concerned about his grandmother than the inheritance.
‘You know I’d love you with or without the money,’ she said to him.
‘Yes, I know that now,’ Takashi replied. ‘Haruka, did you hear what happened to Kenji?’ he asked her.
‘I did. Yuriko told me.’
Takashi leaned back. ‘How did Yuriko know?’
‘Kenji was on his way to her house when he had the accident.’
‘Why was he going to see Yuriko?’
‘They had a few dates after he drove her home that night we went to Masaya’s tavern,’ said Haruka.
‘I see. So are they dating?’ asked Takashi, quite startled.
‘They went on a couple of dates, but Kenji made it clear to her that he didn’t want a serious relationship, so they kept seeing each other as friends.’
‘As friends!’ Takashi exclaimed.
‘Yes, she really likes him.’
‘I see,’ he said, still a little dumbfounded by this revelation.
‘She’s so upset about the accident, but she wants to be there for Kenji, and he’s made her feel so much better about herself. She had her haircut recently and it looks really nice – and she’s not as skinny anymore.’
‘I know. I met her at the café. She’s looking a lot better,’ said Takashi.
‘Takashi. Is Kenji going to be okay?’
‘I’m not sure – we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll all look after him, won’t we?’
‘We sure will,’ said Haruka.
‘That’s my girl,’ Takashi replied.
He put his arm around her. ‘Hey – I’d like to take you out to a nice restaurant this evening, Haruka,’ he said to her.
She kissed Takashi lightly on the forehead, just above his bruise. ‘No,’ she replied. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to stay here with you. Let’s get some snacks from the convenience store and have a feast here.’
Takashi hugged her tightly. Haruka really was a girl after his own heart.
Fortune waits on honest toil and earnest endeavour
The long, freezing winter ended, and the earthquakes were now a memory they all chose to forget. The spring brought Kenji back to good health. He was still walking with the help of a cane, but his doctor reassured him that he was making a speedy recovery and that he’d soon be able to get out and about without any assistance. Yuriko stayed by his side most days when she wasn’t working at the interior design company in Shinagawa, and although Kenji and Yuriko insisted that they were just good friends, everyone suspected so much more.
Takashi did quite well in his final exams at university, but despite every effort, he was unable to take a position in a trading company due to his poor English. Instead, he began his first employment as an office worker at a bank – work he really enjoyed.
In April, the group came together for a few picnics under the cherry blossom trees. These seasonal flowers that come and go so quickly reminded them of the fleeting fragility of life and to appreciate what they had now, as it may well be lost again tomorrow.
Over the past six months, they had often gathered at Masaya’s izakaya tavern to celebrate the end of each week. As well as this, Haruka, Momo-chan, Masaya and Takashi met up to go out every Sunday and explore the shops in Shibuya and Daikanyama. They had lots more adventures, going out as a foursome.
In July, Takashi’s family were thrilled to hear Katsuro’s announcement that Mika had given birth to a baby boy, whom they named Naoki. Both mother and child were fine after the birth and in good health. Katsuro, Mika and the boy left Tokyo, earlier than expected, at the end of the summer to go and live in London, where Katsuro would work for a further four years.
Takashi enjoyed the rainy summer season that year, getting together with Haruka at his apartment and meeting at their favourite café on Thursdays. When the autumn began and the heat subsided, Haruka and Takashi began meeting up every other day, and they grew so much closer.
Three months later, Takashi sold his grandmother’s house and moved in with Haruka into a new home in Shirogane which they bought with his inheritance. They both wanted to live a bit further away from central Tokyo, but a real estate agent suggested they take a look at this lovely home and instead of deciding on houses closer to their parents, they fell in love with the place and chose to live in Shirogane. The house had an ornamental Japanese garden that Haruka had always wanted and inside was a mixture of Western and Japanese rooms.
Takashi and Haruka had a new kitchen installed with smooth white granite worktops and a bathroom with all the latest mod cons. Adjacent to the house, their undercover double garage sheltered Haruka’s Nissan March and Takashi’s new BMW. The house was far too big for the two of them and they had plenty of room for Takashi’s parents. They had spoken to them about this and decided that they would come and live in Shirogane with Takashi and Haruka when Takashi’s father retired. Takashi always wanted to look after them in their old age.
Haruka told Takashi that her parents were struggling financially and although they were against it at first, Takashi eventually convinced them to accept his help. Haruka’s parents were so pleased that they didn’t have to sell their house. Takashi also paid for his parents to spend a week with Haruka and himself in Hokkaido, where his mother could spend some time with her brothers and sisters. Even Katsuro, Mika and their boy Naoki flew over from London for the reunion.
Not long after, Takashi asked Haruka to marry him and she accepted his proposal. He just couldn’t imagine his future without her. Takashi’s mother suggested they go to Kyoto for their honeymoon, but Haruka and Takashi talked it over and decided to go to Paris!
THE END
The research for this book was facilitated by:
Café hors et dans in Omotesando
Enya Izakaya in Shimokitazawa
Mrs Ayako Naritomi
Mr Katsunori Ariyoshi
Mrs Kurihara at Umi Gohan restaurant in Ginza
The Hotel Okura in Kyoto
. . .
Go to
www.renaelucashall.com
to check out the free author’s Guide to Tokyo and Beyond.
Look out for TOKYO DREAMS the sequel to TOKYO HEARTS