“Are you serious? I’m here for the same reason you are. I want to be a sushi chef.”
“But how?”
“I guess I’m that good.” Was this the kind of reaction I could expect from everyone here? “How did you get in?” I shot back.
“I applied, like you. I guess I just assumed it was for men.”
“Are you shocked?”
“A little. I’ve only ever seen male sushi chefs.”
“Well, now you’re about to see a woman sushi chef. Got a problem with that?”
“Uh, no. I think it’s fine.” His tone softened. “My name’s Kenji Sanada. Nice to meet you.”
Kenji Sanada? The name triggered a wave of memories. “Wait, did you say Kenji Sanada?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Could it really be him? “Do you have a birthmark on the inside of your left forearm?”
A pause, this time longer. “Who’s asking?”
“Just answer the question. Do you?”
“I do. Now, who are you?”
I grinned, my heart racing. “Did you name it Pikachu because it sort of looks like Pikachu?”
Seconds stretched like hours. Finally, his voice cracked with disbelief. “Akiko? Is that you?”
“Yes! Oh my God, Kenji! Yes, it’s me!”
“No way. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Same here! The last time I saw you was when your family moved away.”
Kenji was my best friend growing up, my partner in every childhood adventure until his dad’s new job took them to Tokyo. When they left, it felt like losing a part of myself.
“This is surreal,” he said. “I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I. Why didn’t you try to find me?”
“I did. Later, when I was older. But I kept hitting dead ends. You could’ve tried to find me, too, you know.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” My voice softened. He had no idea what my life had become after he left. “It’s a long story.”
“Well, we’ve got time. Tell me everything. How are your parents?”
Hearing Kenji say that broke my heart a little. He had moved away before all the terrible things that happened. He had no idea. So I started my story with my father disappearing.
“Wait, your father just vanished… No trace?”
“It happened right after you left. The police looked for him, but after a while they gave up, and that was it.”
“Akiko…I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I feel like an asshole for not trying harder to find you.”
“You couldn’t have known, Kenji. We were kids.”
