บท 65: Have You Ever Thought When Did We First Meet Each Other?

Since it was noon, Shouko brought Grandpa to have lunch first before they started their little adventure. She picked a family restaurant and was relieved to see Grandpa didn't mind coming to such a place.

As an old master of a prominent family with countless wealth and fame, she could safely say Grandpa didn't act like one.

"It isn't good to be picky," Grandpa said once she pointed it out during their lunch. "The emperor exists because of his people. No matter how powerful and wealthy you are, you couldn't reach that height by yourself. If I'm being picky, how else I would discover this delicacy?"

After saying that, Grandpa continued eating the spiced cherry and strawberry pie he got himself hooked. With a blob of vanilla ice cream that screamed high calory, it surely wasn't the kind of dessert that an elderly should frequent.

Shouko shook her head as she laughed, Grandpa was so lively for a man of his age.

For the first time, she felt the warmth of having a grandparent.

After lunch, Shouko and Grandpa took a stroll alongside the waterfront. A long row of stalls selling various items had been set up, making the air livelier. The two of them didn't miss the chance to visit each stall.

The sky was bright and the air was cool. It was a perfect day to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding them. They walked while having a pleasant chat with each other.

What Grandpa said the other day through the phone was right. The maple and ginkgo leaves in the area had long reached their peak. As they fell from the trees, they created a myriad of red and golden above the passers-by.

"Ah, what are they doing?" Grandpa's attention was caught by a merry sound coming from one side. He paused his step, prompting Shouko to do the same. "Let's go and take a look."

Shouko obediently followed him as they changed direction. The sound was coming from the plaza near the waterfront. It seemed like the council was organizing a singing competition.

A group of people was cheering the participants on the stage. The atmosphere was vibrant as everyone was enjoying themselves. Some of the young people and children danced while laughing, following the melody.

"Hahaha, this brings back the memory," Grandpa suddenly laughed, he smiled softly looking at the stage. "Time sure flies."

"What do you mean, Grandpa?" Shouko asked in curiosity.

Grandpa turned his attention away from the stage, looking at his granddaughter-in-law with a meaningful glance. "Grandpa invited you here not just because of the scenery."

"En?"

Grandpa laughed again. He pointed toward a direction with a movement of his chin. "Let's sit down there first, shall we? My old legs have started to ache."

"Oh, let's go, Grandpa," Shouko quickly helped the old man.

They sat on a bench placed under a tree. This place was quite a distance from the stage so they could still converse in ease.

Grandpa let out a satisfied sigh once he sat down. Shouko uncapped a bottle of mineral water and handed it to him. The old man accepted it with a grateful smile. He quickly moistened his dry throat with the water.

"Shouko, my dear child, have you ever wondered why did Grandpa insist to have you as my granddaughter-in-law? Have you ever thought when did we first meet each other?" Grandpa asked, his gaze landed on the energetic crowd having fun on the plaza.

Shouko was quietly surprised to hear the questions. She quickly nodded.

"Yes... I did wonder about that," She answered honestly.

From what she remembered, Ono mentioned about the Old Master Kashino took an interest in her to be his grandson's wife which angered her parents. At first, she thought her sister was just joking but after finding that she was the one who married Kyoya instead of Ono, she finally knew it was true.

"That day, when you said you pretend to be sick, it wasn't our first time meeting each other?" Shouko was quick to grasp the point in the old man's words.

Grandpa's expression softened as he laughed heartily. "You're smart, child. We have met before that, it's just that you didn't remember it or rather, you thought that it's just a trivial thing passing in your life."

The shock was evident on her face as her confusion increased. Where did they meet?

If Grandpa told her that they met during one of the banquets held in the high society, she had never attended one because her father never brought her together. For her to attend them meant Father Yuasa acknowledged his infidelity thus there was no way to bring her to such an occasion filled with the noble and wealthy.

Shouko then looked at her surrounding. Her mind thought back of what Grandpa had said. She then made a guess, "Did we meet here?"

Grandpa's smile answered her question.

"What? When?" Shouko was totally shocked.

Grandpa reached out a hand and gently took hers. As his old eyes peered at her curious and confused gaze, gentleness flickered in them.

"Whenever you came here, you'd always visit the cafe called White Rose, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes," Shouko nodded.

White Rose was the cafe she frequented every time she wanted a break from the suffocating atmosphere in her maiden home or if she wanted a different environment to finish her assignment and writing tasks.

The food and beverages served there were cheaper than most of the cafes and restaurants here but they tasted delicious. The ambiance was good too making Shouko who had always be frugal with her pocket money couldn't resist coming there.

"We met here in summer," Grandpa's smile was soft but as he recalled the event, he began to laugh out loud. "It was an embarrassing thing, really! There was a summer dancing competition and Grandpa joined it. Who knew, my back started to ache after a few minutes after I danced."

"What?" Shouko's eyes dilated. Why did it suddenly turn into comedy? Grandpa joined a dance competition and got a backpain?

"Hahaha! Can't you recall it?" Grandpa wasn't a bit ashamed telling his granddaughter-in-law the embarrassing moment. He looked proud, even. "An old man in a floral shirt and long pants, sitting on a bench while pressing his back. Seems familiar?"

Shouko paused, jogging back her memory of that time.

Summer. A dance competition. An old man in a floral shirt.

This time, Shouko was so shocked her mouth gaping widely as she stared at Grandpa with incredulity. She blinked a few times as daze caught her off guard.

"That old man was you?" Shouko could barely mutter the words as the memory came as a blur in her mind.

"Hahaha! You remembered?" Grandpa continued laughing, he had even attracted the attention of several passers-by.

Disbelief flashed in her eyes as the image of the evening turned vivid as moments passed.

It was two months before her graduation. Shouko remembered going to the cafe to de-stress. That day, her mood was so low after Mother Yuasa picking faults with her after she had accidentally touched the older woman's jade bracelet.

It was obviously a really small thing yet Mother Yuasa didn't think so. Her insult started from the way Shouko came to live in her house to how her mother was a seductress. That woman was in a bad mood because, at that time, Yuasa Group had started having a financial crisis.

She only ordered a glass of iced tea yet she spent hours in the cafe looking out the windows, observing the passers-by with dull eyes. The kind owner, an old man in his mid-sixties, who saw how dejected one of his loyal customers was, came to her table with a slice of chilled raspberry cheesecake.

"You're so in low-spirit today, child," The old man smiled warmly. He slowly placed the cheesecake on the table, surprising Shouko. "Eat it. It's on the house."

Shouko blushed, feeling bashful. She quickly waved her hands as a sense of guilt crept in her heart. "Thank you but... there's no need. I'd settle it on my bill."

She had spent hours here with only an iced tea. How could she accept this cake?

"I love seeing my customers leave with a smile," The owner said gently. "It's obvious that you have problems. You don't have to share them with me but I hope this slice of cake could cheer you up. There's no problem that couldn't be fixed by a good dessert."

As Shouko was stunned by his good remark, the old man left the table with a smile. The view of his back walking toward another table to converse with another customer seemed warm to her.

When she looked at the cheesecake with bits of raspberry and its red glossy sauce drizzled on the surface, a lone tear escaped her eyes. The grievances she felt disappeared bit by bit.

It was a stranger who showed her an act of kindness.

Shouko left the cafe with a brighter mood. When she wanted to pay for her iced tea, the young cashier smiled and said she should come again if she wanted to pay for it. The owner winked at her from the other side of the cafe.

The air felt lighter as she stepped outside the cafe.

Since it was summer, people were dressed in colorful summer clothes. Shouko smiled as she watched them. Her eyes were filled with faint happiness.

"Oh, there's a festival here? A dance competition?" Shouko muttered slowly.

Since she was too preoccupied with her problems, she didn't even realize there was a crowd bustling at the plaza. Shouko took the chance to see it rather than going home early. She hummed softly, following the rhythm of the melody coming from the speakers.

On another side.

"Old Master, where are you?"

"What are you fussing about, huh? I'd just be here for a few hours at most." With his phone pressed on his right ear, Grandpa Kashino looked around. His eyes lit up seeing the colorful stage not far from him.

"But, you're alone right now! Why did you ditch the bodyguards like that? What if something happened to you?"

"Tsk, don't belittle me, you punk," Grandpa continued being stubborn. He didn't even put his dear butler's worry in his mind. "I just want to enjoy myself. Those stiff guys in black won't allow me to do anything. It's all that brat's fault!"

"The First Young Master is just worried about you!" Old Toshio grew anxious in each passing moment.

"Tell that brat I don't need his concern! Who told him to refuse coming back here?"

Grandpa resolutely ended the call. He didn't even care that his old butler was crying due to his stubbornness. With a wide smile, he made way toward the plaza.

Aiya~ It had been long since the last time he went dancing! Should he try it for a bit?