Chapter 53

In the 1980s, unexpected road conditions were definitely something to consider when driving.

Fortunately, no matter what era it was, as long as you had money, there were few things that couldn't be handled.

On a morning in mid-June, the car drove out of Tokyo.

......

After less than an hour, they arrived in Kamakura. At this time, the famous scene from "Slam Dunk" that people would later vie to check in at had not yet appeared. Naoyuki Nakayama mainly visited the famous Kamakura Daibutsu at Kotoku-in Temple and toured other famous Buddhist temples such as Enkaku-ji, Myo-o-in, and Kencho-ji.

Without the boost of faith, the scenery alone was just so-so, with some of the Buddha statues having a sense of age.

After Kamakura, it was finally a long stretch of coastal scenery.

Listening to cheerful music from the car stereo and enjoying the coastal views, Naoyuki Nakayama felt as if he were in a manga world.

The bright sunshine, cool sea breeze, cheerful music, and boundless blue sky and sea made this city dweller, who was usually trapped in the concrete jungle, feel a sense of liberation.

If it weren't for a bit of modesty, he would have burst into song.

Time spent immersed in the beautiful scenery passed quickly. Without braking, over an hour of coastal scenery seemed to fly by.

Naoyuki Nakayama arrived in Hakone at noon and also visited Lake Ashi, but he didn't see the famous "Jade Fan Hanging Over the Eastern Sea." The summer Mount Fuji, how to put it, had no snow cap...

It looked no different from an ordinary mountain.

The next stop was Atami, famous for its hot springs. In the gradually warming daytime, it wasn't the best time to enjoy them, but having a kaiseki meal was quite nice.

After Atami, they entered the eastern Izu Peninsula. The movie "Izu no Odoriko" starring Momoe Yamaguchi instantly came to mind, even making Naoyuki Nakayama want to find a traveling performance troupe.

Indeed, he was a die-hard fan of Momoe Yamaguchi.

Driven by this impulse, Naoyuki Nakayama still went to find the old Tōgō Tunnel, took photos as a keepsake, and reminisced about his youth.

Of course, he didn't miss the famous Kawazu Nanadaru, leaving his presence at each of the seven waterfalls.

After a couple of hours of reminiscing, it was already past noon.

Naoyuki Nakayama hurriedly continued driving, hoping to return home that day.

Earlier, when passing through Inatori, Naoyuki Nakayama had bought some red fish, a specialty of Inatori, known for its tenderness, intending to let his family try it.

Shimoda, at the southern end of Izu, was where the male and female protagonists of "Izu no Odoriko" parted ways. Such a place full of memories, Naoyuki Nakayama naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to take photos as a keepsake.

The southernmost point, Ishizaki, looked even more beautiful in the afternoon sun.

After passing through Matsuzaki-cho, his hometown in Shizuoka seemed within sight across the sea.

As the evening red clouds gradually rose, the coastal scenery became increasingly dreamlike, as if draped in an unreal veil.

Finally, before sunset, Naoyuki Nakayama returned to his hometown in Shizuoka.

......

In a small town, houses generally don't have garages, but there are plenty of places to park.

Naoyuki Nakayama parked the sports car on a side road next to the entrance and had already called home to inform them of his return.

Carrying the water tank with the red fish and some local specialties, he pushed open the door and entered the entrance.

"I'm back!"

His mother, Natsuko, was very happy to see Naoyuki Nakayama: "Naoyuki, welcome home."

She then hurried out of the living room to take the things from his hands.

"Naoyuki, what did you bring? It seems quite heavy."

"These are red fish from Inatori, which are quite famous, so I brought a few back to try." Naoyuki Nakayama looked around and noticed that only his mother was home.

"Is Father and Big Brother still at the shop? Has Tsuruko come back yet?"

Natsuko Nakayama took the water tank into the kitchen, apparently ready to check the fish.

She replied, "The shop gets busier as summer approaches. As for Tsuruko, she's probably at a club activity."

"Oh? She joined a club? That's great."

Naoyuki Nakayama used to be rather introverted and was always part of the 'home club.'

"It seems to be some kind of ghost story research club," the voice from the kitchen was muffled, but his mother seemed very pleased with the red fish.

After a few minutes of small talk, it was almost 5 PM, and as a housewife, Natsuko Nakayama started bustling in the kitchen.

With the fish Naoyuki Nakayama brought, tonight's dinner could be more varied.

Naoyuki Nakayama returned to his room upstairs to rest and organize the souvenirs he brought back, and to sort out the gifts for his family.

......

"Mom, there's a super luxurious sports car parked next to the house!" Hearing Tsuruko's energetic voice from downstairs,

"Hey, are we having fish today?"

Naoyuki Nakayama came downstairs with a few gifts: "Tsuruko, I'm back!"

"Ah, gifts!" Tsuruko's eyes immediately focused on the gifts in Naoyuki Nakayama's hands, "What are they? What are they?"

"Are you not even going to call me 'Onii-chan'?" Naoyuki Nakayama was speechless.

Watching Tsuruko excitedly take the gift and start unwrapping it,

"Hi, Onii-chan, welcome home~" she said insincerely, then immersed herself in the task of unwrapping the gift.

"Wow~~ It's a Sony Walkman! And it's red~" This model, which had only come out the year before, was still a novelty in Japan, and even fewer people in the small town owned one.

"Thank you, Onii-chan!"

With this gift, Tsuruko didn't even bother to help in the kitchen, immediately running upstairs to find a suitable cassette tape to try.

The silk scarf for his mother and the tea and handmade fishing floats for his father and big brother were left in the living room.

After dinner was ready, Naoyuki Nakayama went upstairs once to call Tsuruko out of her headphones; the girl was completely engrossed in her new Walkman.

There were only three people at the dinner table. During this period, his father and big brother usually ate at the izakaya, as they had to work in the evenings.

They wouldn't get home until around 10 PM and would have to be at the izakaya by 10 AM the next morning to prepare for the lunch opening, so they earned their money through hard work.

The red fish from Inatori was indeed fresh and delicious, making everyone praise it: "The fish today is so fresh, where did you get it, Mom?"

"It's what Naoyuki brought back~"

"These are red fish from Inatori, a specialty of the Inatori port."

"Is that so?" Tsuruko was a bit skeptical, "Then my ghost story research club has a new topic."

"What's a ghost story research club?" Naoyuki Nakayama couldn't help but marvel at the creativity of high school students, "Do you study ghosts?"

"Ghosts are just one direction. There are also man-eating rooms, mysterious forests... We study all the strange things that exist in the world and try to solve the mysteries."

"Like these red fish, how could they only exist in the Inatori port? There must be a secret!"

Natsuko Nakayama immediately interrupted, "Don't talk about such nonsense during meals!"

At her age, she still had a taboo about strange and eerie things.

"Okay~" x2

Then the two of them quietly sped up their chewing.