章 3: Going Out

Shinji had been a resident of this neighborhood for over a decade. He had become friends with Jun almost from the beginning. Their bond was strong. Contrary to Shinji, who had a partner and together they had a son and a daughter, their neighbor, Sato Sensei, lived a solitary life. Occasionally, during festive seasons, some of his students would come over to pay him a visit. Apart from those times, his house appeared silent and vacant.

Over the years, Shinji had come to know about certain aspects of Jun's personal life: Jun was an only child. Tragedy struck early when his parents died, leaving him alone. In his earlier years, he had been married to a woman, but it appeared she had since passed away. He never ventured into another marriage after that. Now, in his later years, he had no children of his own.

Shinji, along with his wife, both genuine and straightforward people, felt a sense of compassion for Jun. They often extended dinner invitations to him, and on some occasions, they'd go out for a calming fishing trip together.

In terms of character, Shinji held Jun in the highest regard. He would often remark that Sato Sensei was a man of honor and integrity. He had a structured and disciplined life, and there was no hint of any behavior that could be deemed inappropriate.

However, what Shinji witnessed on this particular day shook his belief — not necessarily in Jun but more in his own perception. His immediate reaction wasn't to suspect Jun of any wrongdoing(like sex trade). Instead, he questioned his own sight. He wondered if age was affecting his vision or if he was suffering from hallucinations due to some unknown medical condition.

The atmosphere in Shinji's living room shifted to an uneasy silence. Hana briefly looked down, her gaze resting on her slippers, and then shifted to Jun, who looked equally surprised. With a determined tone, she asked, "Is there any reason I shouldn't kiss my own husband?"

Jun, looking a bit disoriented and with his glasses not sitting right, soon managed to gather himself. Fixing his glasses, he took a brief step backward and cleared his throat, a gesture of discomfort. Instead of addressing Hana's question head-on, he gently suggested to her, "There's breakfast waiting in the kitchen, and it's still warm. Maybe you should start with that."

As Hana proceeded towards the dining area, Jun chose to sit closer to Shinji. Realizing that what he had witnessed was not a figment of his imagination, Shinji, with a mix of concern and curiosity, asked, "Jun, could you clarify what just occurred? How do you know this young woman?"

After a brief pause, where Jun seemed to gather his thoughts, he responded, "She is... indeed my wife."

"The very same woman I tied the knot with forty-one years ago," he added, before delving into the intricate details of time travel.

Shinji's reaction was of sheer disbelief. "You're joking, right?!" Having had a completely different understanding of Jun's life, this revelation was a lot to process. Mulling it over for a moment, the name 'Hana' suddenly made sense to him.

Jun wasn't someone who often spoke of his late wife. The only time Shinji had gotten a hint was years back. They were out celebrating a student's success. Jun had let himself indulge a bit too much that evening. It was then, in his inebriated state, that he had mentioned a woman named Hana.

He spoke with tears streaming down his face, a surprising sight for someone who typically seemed so sturdy and unshakeable. But the mere mention of his late wife made him unravel.

Now, Shinji just sat there, trying to grapple with his own whirlwind of emotions, searching for the right words. Catching a faint silhouette in the kitchen, he leaned closer to Jun, whispering with genuine concern, "What's your plan going forward?" He was all too aware of the glaring age gap between Jun and his once-young wife. He knew Jun's character, and it wasn't in Jun's nature to be the kind of older man who sought the company of much younger women merely for their youthful beauty.

But Jun, the one truly in the midst of this enigma, seemed less perturbed than his friend. He responded with resolve, "Her being alive and with me is what matters most right now. Everything else can be figured out later. She's probably feeling so out of place in this time, and I need to ensure she's okay. At this stage in my life, I don't have a long list of wants. My focus is to take care of her, and no matter what she chooses down the road, I'll ensure she's supported. After all, she doesn't have anyone else."

Shinji, struggling to find the right words, patted Jun's shoulder in a comforting gesture, murmuring, "Life has its mysterious ways."

Once Hana finished eating and stepped out of the kitchen, she noticed the old man, who was unfamiliar to her, had departed, while Jun was busy tidying up.

Catching her inquisitive gaze, Jun explained, "That was my good friend, Yoshita Shinji from the next door. He had to leave but mentioned inviting us for a meal soon."

She followed Jun's movements, then asked, "Aren't we going to handle my ID today? What should I put on?"

Moving to the laundry area, Jun fetched a set of clothes, "Here, these are the clothes from yesterday. They're cleaned and dried. Wear them for now, and once we're done with the ID stuff, we'll get everything else you need."

Receiving the clothes, Hana took out a soft purple pair of underwear, which carried the fresh aroma of jasmine. She looked up, a teasing glint in her eyes, "You washed these for me too?"

Jun just looked at her, his expression unchanged, a contrast to his younger self who would've turned red from such a jest.

As he continued searching for something in the room, Hana curiously approached the door, trying it out. To her surprise, it recognized her and opened smoothly. She wondered when Jun had set that up, but without pondering too long, she stepped outside to embrace the new day.

The previous day had been marked by relentless rain, but today was the complete opposite. The sun beamed brightly, the ground retained some dampness, and droplets of water adorned the greenery in the garden.

Compared to the neighboring gardens bursting with hues, this one seemed subdued. The plants looked neglected and the vibrancy of blossoms was missing. However, one tree stood out - a jasmine tree, bearing a few pristine white buds. It was evident that the garden hadn't been a priority for the homeowner.

"Let's head out," Jun stated, taking the lead. They strolled beneath the tree canopy until they reached the community's main gate. There, they spotted a booth with a familiar sign from the day before.

After hailing a ride, they soon found themselves in front of a massive building. Bright red letters at the entrance declared 'Serve the People' and shone brightly in the sunlight. A large placard identified it as the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Once inside, they saw staff members in uniforms busy with their tasks. No one really looked their way. Hana's eyes caught several people using machines on one side, which reminded her of the self-help machines in old banks. But Jun had a clear direction in mind; he walked straight to a specific desk. In a few moments, someone came from an adjoining room and guided them to a private office.

"The situation with Mrs. Sato is unusual," the stern-faced official began, "We talked about the legal guidelines for these rare cases with Mr. Sato last night. Usually, Mrs. Sato would undergo a one-year observation and receive community support. But, due to Mr. Sato's excellent citizen record and your marital status, it's been shortened to six months."

He handed them two folders, "Please look through these documents."

Hana quickly glanced through. The papers outlined many rules, responsibilities, and advantages. There was a space for them to sign at the bottom.

"Mr. Sato has requested privacy," the man continued, "So, our media won't share any details about Mrs. Sato. If someone shares her info without permission or bothers her, we'll step in. We're here to uphold and protect every citizen's rights..."

The official went into more detail, and by the time they left, Hana had a clear understanding. "So, basically, no one's going to interview me, share my pictures, or have a bunch of people staring at me, right?"

Jun replied, "Exactly."

Hana remarked, "If this was four decades ago, they'd probably have shown me off like some kind of exhibit."

Jun added, "After the first time-travel incident where an old man got swarmed and died due to the crowd, they put in new protective laws."

Hana thought for a moment, "But this kind of puts you in an odd position, right?"

Jun looked a bit confused, unsure of her meaning.

She elaborated, "If people find out I've time-traveled, those who know you might get really curious. But if you keep it quiet, and I suddenly appear as your wife, they might think you're just after someone younger. It's a misunderstanding, don't you think?"

Jun seemed unfazed, "We'll handle it as it comes." He started looking up nearby shopping centers on his device, ready to take Hana out shopping.

Standing before the huge mall's entrance, Hana observed that despite the rise of online shopping, physical stores still held their ground even after forty years. Yet, she did see fewer of the small grocery shops she remembered from her past.

The inside of the mall was beyond massive. Hana had never seen something like it. With countless products, over forty distinct areas, and twelve elevators just to access these areas, it was overwhelming. Hana, not typically a fan of such places, felt a bit lost as she followed Jun.

The first item on their list was a phone. But these weren't just phones anymore; they were now called 'PT'-'personal terminals'. It seemed straight out of a sci-fi book she had once read. Interested, Hana took her time exploring the store.

The sales strategy hadn't evolved much in four decades. Whichever model Hana checked out, the eager salesperson would chime in, "Check out this Level 4 model. It's super popular with the younger crowd. It has an 80-core processor and a whopping 128 terabytes of memory. Plus, you can customize it in eight different ways..."

After a few minutes, Hana turned to Jun, who had been waiting patiently, and asked, "Do you have enough money?"

Jun responded, "Sure, if you want it, get it."

She admitted, "I'm a bit lost with all this tech. Can you pick one for me?"

Jun confessed, "Honestly, I'm out of the loop too. A student gifted me mine, and it's already five years old."

They looked at each other, and Hana decided, "Okay, I'll just pick one myself."

After choosing her personal terminal and integrating the ID chip they received from the Public Security Bureau, Hana picked a watch-style design, similar to Jun's. As she toyed with her new gadget, engrossed and looking downwards, Jun gently held her arm to guide her and ensure she didn't collide with anyone.

Suddenly, Hana paused, pointing excitedly to a game store, "I want to grab a game."

Jun exhaled, looking half amused and half concerned, and said, "Okay, but remember to not get too carried away. Don't stay up all night playing and make sure to have some balance..."

Before he could continue, an enthusiastic Hana was already pulling him towards the game store's entrance.