Former Mayor
We went home together. We talked about the things we couldn’t talk about. Even though we were best friends, we had just met, so there were endless things to talk about because we didn’t know each other.
We never stopped talking.
Today, I have to make Ichijo-san eat fried oysters.
“Come to think of it, why do you like fried oysters, Ichijo-san?”
I can’t help but ask.
“Oh, it was my late mother’s specialty. She always made it for my birthday. I can’t forget it.”
It was the first time I heard about Ichijo-san’s late mother.
I feel a little sorry for what I heard.
“Sorry, was that insensitive?”
She shakes her head with a smile.
“That’s not true. Even Senpai told me about your father. I knew I had to tell you sometime…”
Come to think of it, I told Ichijo about my father when we had lunch at my house.
“Then I hope you like it. It may not be as good as your mother’s fried oysters…”
Actually, fried oysters were my father’s specialty. Delicious oysters, fried and served with a special tartar sauce, are a fall and winter specialty at Kitchen Aono.
“Our tartar sauce has shibazuke (tl: a Japanese pickle) as a secret ingredient. It has a sour taste that makes it refreshing. It’s my father’s signature recipe, so you can look forward to it.”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it! My mother used to make tartar sauce with fried onions, and it was delicious. I miss it.”
I’m also the son of a Western restaurant owner, so I know what she means. It’s a lot of work to fry onions for the sauce. And yet Ichijo-san’s mother took the time and effort. That’s how much she loved her daughter…
Ichijo-san is a fussy eater, despite her thin body.
She eats her lunch in small portions. Well, it’s rude to point this out, so I’ll just shut up.
While we were chatting about such trivial matters, a car stopped in front of us.
An old man with gray hair got out.
It was someone I knew. He was a good friend of my father and the former mayor of the town… Uncle Minami.
“Eiji-kun. Long time no see. Did I interrupt your date? It’s great that you seem to be doing well.”
Ichijo-san looked at Uncle Minami with a curious expression and seemed to recognize who he was right away.
“Senpai, why is the former mayor talking to us so openly?”
She asked me in a whisper.
“Oh, Uncle Minami is a friend of my late father, and he still loves us as if we were his grandchildren.”
Ichijo-san’s eyes fluttered in surprise at the unexpected words.
“Eh, really…”
She made a face as if in disbelief.
Uncle Minami was a benefactor who supported and understood my father’s volunteer work when he was mayor. He was so supportive that he gave us permission to use the city park for a soup kitchen for the underprivileged.
He then expanded my father’s activities and created regulations for the city’s Children’s Soup Kitchen Movement, working closely with the public and private sectors to provide support in the form of grants and other forms of assistance.
Our city has a reputation for being an excellent environment for raising children, even among large cities, and the fact that the population continues to grow is said to be due to the achievements of Uncle Minami when he was mayor.
After serving three terms as mayor, he retired from politics and is now following in my father’s footsteps by establishing a volunteer organization to support the independence of the disadvantaged and work on the front lines against poverty.
Even after my father’s death, he still cares about Kitchen Aono and shows up often.
“I’m on my way to your house now. You can come with me in the car if you want. I’ll give you a lift. Oh, and by the way, Ojou-chan. You might be…”
She introduced herself a little nervously.
“My name is Ichijo Ai. It’s been a long time, Mayor Minami.”
“Please don’t call me Mayor. I’m already retired. So you’re Ai-chan. I knew it. You’ve become much more beautiful. You look different. I see. Mamoru’s son, Eiji-kuun, and you are walking together. This must be some kind of fate.”
Ichijo-san’s parents seemed to be influential people. I listened to their conversation without daring to ask for details.
“Mayor Minami. I’m no longer related to my father.”
Upon hearing these words, Uncle Minami laughed in a surprised yet satisfied tone. “Oh, I see,” he said while shaking his head.
“Okay. Anyway, get in the car. I’ve been wanting to visit your house for a long time, Eiji-kun.”