That was what she had said, but it wasn’t true. Shoji was calling her now, but he wasn’t sure if he did know her. He had no clue which city in Iwate prefecture she came from, or what kind of childhood she’d had, or who she had been close with. Even when they had been together, there were so many things she kept from him. For instance, those aquarium visits. He was certain she had been hiding something, yet he hadn’t probed further.

Shoji clenched his fist and banged the phone booth.

‘Yoko …’ His voice came out cracked. ‘Where are you now?’ There was so much more he wanted to learn about her, so many things he wanted to say to her, but those words would forever be stuck in his throat.

Crouching down inside the phone booth, Shoji wept quietly. He knew he should make his way back soon. Liyun would be waiting. He’d promised her he would be back for dinner. But at this moment he was such a wreck, and he wanted to be alone. He didn’t have the energy to deal with anything or anyone. Shoji buried his head between his legs.

Gentle taps pattered on the glass panels. Drizzle quickly turned into a heavy downpour. Strange weather. The temperature had felt pleasantly warm an hour ago. Shoji stared at the drops of water falling on the black asphalt.

Resting his head against the glass panels, he closed his eyes. He sunk himself into the sound of rain. Slowly, he caught its rhythm, its music. A soft, lonely melody that felt so nostalgic. Or was it all in his head? He was exhausted. This life was wearing him out. Had he done enough? Was it time to give up?

Faintly, Shoji heard a woman’s voice. He opened his eyes. He couldn’t see clearly, but he was sure someone was out there, calling his name. He leaned on the glass panels, trying to see where the sound had come from, but the street was empty. The rain poured down with no hint of easing off.

And then he saw her, a woman standing not far from the phone booth. She was wearing a red trench coat and holding a translucent plastic umbrella.

‘Yoko?’ Shoji shouted, pushing open the door.

Strong wind and splashes of rain buffeted him. He braced himself and was about to run towards her, but then he realised the woman was heading in his direction. She came closer. But she wasn’t Yoko.

Liyun joined Shoji inside the phone booth. She closed her umbrella, wringing it outside before resting it against the wooden frame. They faced each other. The phone booth was too cramped with the two of them inside. They had to stand uncomfortably close. She looked at him. Her fringe was wet from the rain. There were water droplets on her face, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away.