When You're Unsure Of The Future

Heisuke quietly stared at the glass of water in his hand that he got from the kitchen. With just a slight movement coming from him, small ripples formed on the surface.

'What the hell am I doing?'

Never did Heisuke expect to come across his new neighbor crying.

Today was his day off so, Heisuke followed his mother here to offer assistance. He thought it would be better if he helped around the inn instead of just staying at home. He could also earn more.

Heisuke was in charge of delivering heavy items to the kitchen. He mostly worked in the backyard where the kitchen was located. After working non-stop since morning, the head chef insisted he go and take a break.

When Heisuke tried to find a good spot to rest undisturbed, the familiar tune he often heard in his dreams suddenly transpired out of nowhere.

In a place where cheerful songs of the festivities should drown any simple and soft sound, he heard the tune as clear as day. The melody passed through the calm stream of his heart, catching him off guard.

Heisuke seriously thought he was going crazy, that his dreams might overlap with reality, but...

Once he found out the source, he was bewildered.

The melody came from the one he secretly thought had the same smile as the woman in his dreams.

'Was it a coincidence?'

Heisuke impassively brushed his face with one hand. Instead of thinking more, his feet brought him back to the garden table where she was waiting for him.

Everything else could be thought of later. There was a sense of urgency pressing into his heart when he recalled her teary face.

Hisaki had already calmed down. A slight puffiness swelled her eyes. Red and pinkish hues stained her cheeks while streaks of dry tears clung to her face.

Her ears caught the sound of someone walking from behind. The soles of someone's slippers brushed against the grass tips.

With a slight tilt of her chin, Hisaki saw her old man had returned with a glass of water.

"Miss Chisaka, have some water."

"...thank you."

Hisaki took the glass from him. Their fingers grazed each other, leaving a faint sensation of warmth.

Heisuke sat on one of the vacant garden chairs. He was quiet as he looked at her gulping down the water. Her face was blotchy with dry tears but, it seemed like her mood had eased up.

For a moment, no one spoke yet the silence wasn't suffocating. The late summer breeze gently brushed past them, carrying an air of tranquility.

"I'm sorry... for you to see that."

Hisaki cracked the silence between them. She kept holding the empty glass with both hands, wanting to feel something to grab. Her hunch shoulders and meek look were slightly obscured by the shadows of the tree leaves above her.

"Do you feel better?" A question came out gently from Heisuke's mouth. His usually calm expression carried a trace of concern, "If you have anything worrying you, you can talk to me. Uh, well... that's if you want to."

Heisuke dropped his gaze from continued looking into her reddened and round eyes. For a second, he was reminded of what his mother told him almost a week ago.

Miss Chisaka was forced into a marriage. He silently questioned if the man wanted to marry her because of her enchanting beauty.

Heisuke had come across lots of women. Although he had never been in a relationship before, as a man full of youth, he still appreciated the beauty of the opposite genders.

Yet, Heisuke also had witnessed how such beauty faded when one's personality was on the contradiction side.

"Well... I was just reminded of something," answered Hisaki quietly.

At first, she wanted to say nothing was bothering her but, a part of her heart wanted to lean on him as she had always done before.

"Was it something really sad?"

The melody that she hummed was actually a lively and vibrant one. It matched the one he heard in his dreams yet, the way Miss Chisaka sang the tune gave off a feeling of loneliness.

For an unknown reason, her sorrowful humming resonated deeply in his heart.

"Yes," Hisaki admitted honestly. She brought her gaze to the base of the glass before she lifted it up and looked at her old man, "Something sad... when you're unsure of your future."

Of their uncertain future.

Heisuke was at a loss of words. He was aware that he was not a good and eloquent talker. It was frustrating to think that he actually yearned to make this young lady who he didn't know well to feel better.

What should he say?

"En, I think you're a brave person, Miss Chisaka."

Heisuke finally let their eyes meet again. This time, a faint smile accompanied his words.

"Huh?"

From where did that come from?

Heisuke stifled his laughter. He really was not a good talker.

"Well, I've heard a bit about your situation," He confessed with slight guilt, "I'm sorry if it seems like I've probed into your life."

"No, no... That's fine," Hisaki quickly appeased him.

Heisuke smiled again. He didn't know how soft his gaze was at this moment.

"I don't know why are you worried about the future. But, I think you'd be doing just fine. You came to this unfamiliar place alone. If you keep staying in your hometown, you might not know how far you could come."

Hisaki was caught in a daze. She slowly blinked her eyes as his words were engraved into her heart.

Her old man was not good with words. Sometimes, those words came out clumsily but, wisdom always lay beneath them.

Every time doubt pricked her heart, he would always be there to pull her out of the uncertainty.

"Then, I'll work hard," Hisaki made a vow. Determination flickered in her eyes, showing how resolute she was, "I'll make sure everything goes as I've planned."

Heisuke just smiled. Little did he know that what she was concerned about was related to him.

Hisaki was a lot calmer now. Since the opportunity of being alone with her old man didn't come by easily, she intended to make full use of it.

"En, I thought you were working today. Did the inn ask for your help?"

"Yes. They need extra help during this time," Heisuke brushed his gaze on the yukata worn by Hisaki, "Did you come here to help too?"

"Oh, Mayuka told me there's a festival here," Hisaki adjusted the collar of her yukata. It was a bit disheveled which might be due to her crying feat earlier, "When we're touring the lobby, Sister Kurumi asked for help. I just distributed drinks to the visitors, nothing much."

"Oh, you know Miss Kubota?"

Hisaki explained, "We sat next to each other on the train when I first arrived here."

Heisuke just hummed his acknowledgment. He didn't probe further on the matter.

The silence enveloped them again. Hisaki glanced at the clock pole that stood quite a huge distance from them.

Almost thirty minutes had passed since she started sitting in this area. She should go and find Mayuka before the latter got worried searching for her.

As Hisaki fought her reluctance, she slowly got up from her seat. Her eyes remained on Heisuke's serene face, "Then, I'll go now. Perhaps Mayuka is looking for me. Where did you get this glass? I'll return it myself."

"From the kitchen," Heisuke also rose up to his feet, "Just give it to me. I should return to my job soon."

A realization dawned on Hisaki. She anxiously apologized.

"Sorry! Did I take your break time? What to do? You couldn't rest properly!"

Hisaki had just grasped the possibility he was here because it was his break time.

Heisuke wanted to laugh seeing how animated her expression was right now. After suppressing his desire to laugh, he waved his right hand, "It's fine. Don't worry too much."

"But..."

"I'll return the glass," Heisuke reached out for the empty glass. He lifted up his brows, a light glinted in his eyes, "You should go now. What if Miss Ikeda is really looking for you?"

"...okay. Thank you again, Mr. Saeki."

Heisuke smiled and gave a half-shrug, "See you again."

Hisaki politely bowed at him. She turned around and quickly headed back to the front yard.

Even after the young lady had completely vanished from his eyesight, Heisuke remained standing on the same spot. His calm countenance changed instantly as a few lines marred his forehead.

If he recalled correctly, the dreams happened not long before she stepped foot in this town.

Before, he thought nothing of it but, the more they interacted with each other, the more he could see the resemblance between her and the lady in his dreams.

Even the melody was familiar.

Heisuke was not one to believe in supernatural occurrences but, he couldn't deny the possibility that all these things that happened were due to her.

'Who are you, really?'

He wished he was brave enough to directly ask her the question.