Of everything she asked, Kyoko seemed most interested in the number of times that he had asked her to be his girlfriend. Rather than it being a one-off, he had done it three times: soon after they met, three years after that, and lastly, in spring this year. Kazu had been willing to answer all of Kyoko’s questions. But as to why she had refused him twice but said yes on the third time, she replied with a vague “I don’t know.”

When she finally ran out of questions, Kyoko rested her cheeks on her hands and asked Nagare for another coffee.

“So why has the simple news that she has a boyfriend put you in such a good mood?” Nagare asked as he poured her a refill.

Kyoko replied with a beaming smile. “My mother, you see, was always saying that she wished the day when Kazu was happily married would arrive soon.”

Kyoko was referring to her mother Kinuyo, who had passed away the previous month after a long battle with illness.

Kinuyo, who had taught Kazu art since she was a young girl, loved Nagare’s coffee. Right up until she was admitted to the local hospital, she was a regular customer who visited the café whenever she had time. Both Kazu and Nagare were incredibly fond of her.

“Oh, was she?” Nagare mused solemnly. Kazu made no comment, but her hands had stopped polishing the glass she was holding.

Sensing she had brought everyone down, Kyoko added in a hurry, “Oh, stupid me, sorry for ruining the atmosphere. I didn’t mean to suggest Mum had died with unfulfilled wishes. Please don’t take it the wrong way.” But Kazu of course knew that Kyoko hadn’t meant it like that.

“On the contrary, thank you,” Kazu replied with a gentle smile that she ordinarily didn’t show.

Kyoko felt she had dampened the mood, but she seemed pleased to have had the chance to share Kinuyo’s wishes with Kazu. “Oh, my pleasure,” she replied with a happy nod.

“Excuse me, if I might interrupt.”

It was Kiyoshi. He had been quietly sipping his coffee, obviously waiting for a break in the conversation.

“There is something I would like to ask,” he said with a terribly apologetic expression.

To whom he had directed this question was unclear, but Kyoko replied instantly, “Yes?” as did Nagare with, “What is it?” And Kazu, rather than responding, simply looked directly at Kiyoshi. Removing his shabby hunting cap, Kiyoshi scratched his head of mostly white hair.

“Actually, I’m struggling to come up with an idea for what to buy my wife for her birthday,” he muttered, sounding a little embarrassed.

“A present for your wife?” asked Nagare.

“Yes.” Kiyoshi nodded. Perhaps, on hearing the conversation about Kazu choosing a present for her boyfriend’s mother, he had thought that he might learn something useful.