Chapter Text
The soft chirping of her bird makes Suzuki smile. Nagi is a monk parakeet with blue wings and grey stomach. He likes to talk very much and surprisingly; he can say his name and even a ‘good morning’!
Suzuki’s smile lingered as she cooed at her bird, trying to ignore the yelling outside of her room. She had done some research of Nagi’s species. Blue monk parakeets, also known as blue quacker parrots or grey-headed parakeet, are named after their grey forehead, face and breast as it mimics either a monk’s hood or the colonial-era clothing of Quakers.
The yelling got louder and louder behind her, making the six-years-old girl wince at the volume her parents were shouting at each other. Suzuki began to pet Nagi on his head as more information about her precious bird came into her mind.
Monk parakeets are actually invasive species of Japan as they originally come from Argentine, Uruguay and South-Brazil, but when they were brought here to sell as pets, some of them escaped their captors and settled in Japan.
Suzuki flinched when she heard the front door slam shut. She placed her bird back into his cage with Nene, who is a pink-bellied parrot and has pink wings on her back, looking as if she was a ‘walking peach’, before rushing towards the living room where a dark-haired lady with tan skin is crying silently on the couch.
“Mama?” Suzuki, not older than six and so confused as to why her parents where constantly fighting nowadays. “Where is papa going?”
Her mother looks up, unsuccessfully wiping away the tears from her face, before letting her fingers go through her daughter’s hair. “Oh Aiko… Papa had some work to do, so he won’t be coming back for a while.”
Suzuki tilted her head up in confusion. “Is that why mama is crying? Because mama won’t see papa for a little bit?” Her mother nodded; sorrow etched into her eyes, and while Suzuki wiped away the stray tears from her mother’s eyes, a bright, innocent smile lit up on her own face. “Don’t worry, mama! Aiko is sure that papa will come back soon and then, you two won’t have to fight anymore!”
Something in the older woman’s expression changed as she pressed her daughter into her chest. For a six-years-old this made perfect sense as to why her parents were fighting, because they didn’t want to lose each other of course! Her mother was being silly as her father would surely come back and then they won’t have to fight anymore, and everything can go back to the way it was!
For a child this makes all perfect sense, so why were tears slowly sliding down her cheeks as she buried herself into her mother’s chest every night when they both went to bed, after another night with no news about her father.
It wouldn’t be until Suzuki was an adult that she would find out that since she was born, her father felt like he wasn’t getting the same attention from his wife as he was used to before Suzuki was born, but instead of communicating this, he turned to alcohol and drugs which causes her parents to often fight and ultimately made Suzuki’s mother divorce her husband.
Years went by and Suzuki got used to the taunts kids around her age would constantly tease her with and hearing the harmful gossip about her mother, who supposedly ‘can’t handle her husband’. She learned to fight back those kids when she was alone or ignore them when her mother is nearby, as the older woman would be sad when she finds about that these kids were making fun of her daughter and that is the most important thing for her, her mother’s happiness.
Well, that and her birds were the most important thing in Suzuki’s life, until she got a job as a receptionist in the ryokan.
The first employer she met, who also helped her get settled into her new job as a receptionist, was Nakamura. Surprisingly, before being the head of the household of the ryokan, Nakamura also started out as a receptionist. However, one day when a housekeeper became ill and they didn’t have anyone else to substitute for them, Nakamura offered to replace them, despite being a receptionist. Seeing that they didn’t have any other options, the manager agreed, and Nakamura found out that she actually enjoyed being a housekeeper more than being a receptionist as it allowed her to do things instead of being stuck behind a desk all day. After talking to the boss, they agreed to transfer Nakamura to the housekeeping crew if they found someone to replace her, which is where Suzuki comes into the picture.
Suzuki often finds herself seeking for advice by the older woman whether it be about work or something personal. Nakamura, Suzuki finds, has a calming aura that often reminded her of a sparrow. A bird that symbolises finding joy in the little things in life and embracing it simplicity, besides that, a sparrow also symbolises friendliness, productivity, creativity and protection and the more Suzuki gets to know Nakamura the more this bird seemed to fit her.
They would both bond over their shared love for nature and its beauty and in the early days, before Suzuki met Yoshida, she and Nakamura would go to the ryokan’s garden in their breaks and Nakamura would often let Suzuki ramble about birds' facts as they eat their lunch.
That was the first time that Suzuki felt like she gained a motherlike mentor and a true friend.
She didn’t meet Yoshida until she was well settled into her job as a receptionist and learned about her co-workers.
The admiration Suzuki have for Yoshida was no secret between the workers of the ryokan or of the restaurant, which no one could blame her for it as they knew how hard Yoshida worked out of all of them and yet… While that was true, that wasn’t the only reason Suzuki admire Yoshida, nor did it always start out like that.
Suzuki was working at the desk of the lobby, greeting guests and checking them in when she met Yoshida. The man didn’t have the restaurant usual uniform on as he asked for the room number that requested room delivery.
Now, Suzuki wasn’t a judgemental person, she was merely cautious with anyone and everyone that don’t fit the part and while she didn’t meet every single employee of the restaurant building, she did know a few of them and what she know is that they were always in uniform when they came up to her.
So, when she saw Yoshida in his normal day-to-day clothes walking up to her desk, obviously Suzuki would be suspicious of him. Not to mention that the restaurant had also been closed for the past fifteen minutes or so, most of its employees should have gone home by now.
Having these two facts in the back of her mind, Suzuki was wary and when she was guarded… Let’s just say that the receptionist wasn’t known for her discretion.
“Good evening, ma’m.” Yoshida asked, holding a tray in front of him.
“Good evening, sir. What can I do for you?” Suzuki asked as she eyed the older man up and down with a frown.
“I wonder if you could tell me which room Tanaka-sama and his wife resides in? You see-”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that sir.” Suzuki bluntly cut the man off. “Only staff members with high authority or valid reason are privy to that information.”
The smile Yoshida wore didn’t waver as he nodded in understanding. “And I understand that completely, but if you would have let me speak before you cut me off. I work in the restaurant and got a phone call from Tanaka-sama for a room service last minute, because his wife got some late-night cravings.”
In a normal restaurant or ryokan, the receptionist would receive the calls from the guest and redirect it to whoever they want, but since the ryokan and the restaurant are two separate buildings connected to each other by one hallway and has two separate bosses working together, guests can also make separate calls to the restaurant requesting for a room service. In short, Yoshida could very well be telling the truth.
However, that didn’t convince Suzuki as of yet.
“The restaurant has been closed for about fifteen minutes, so why are you still here?”
“As I said, the call was rather last minute, and I was one of the few that was left behind to close up the restaurant. So, I told everyone that they could go home, while I attend this last request for the night before going home.” Yoshida answered patiently, already having a feeling as what the next question is going to be.
“And you changed out of your uniform?” Suzuki asked sceptically.
“Yes, I have already close up the restaurant and now, I only have to delivery this late-night meal to Tanaka-sama and his wife, which is why I thought that if I changed now, I could go straight home. So, if you could tell me their room number then I would very much appreciate it.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but frankly speaking I just don’t believe that you would stay behind to attend a last-minute call when anyone else would have told the caller that they were too late and that the restaurant was closed.”
Honestly, this back-and-forth could have gone on for hours until the food was gone beyond stale, before the two even had the thought of letting Yoshida check the restaurant’s call records or even calling Tanaka himself to verify Yoshida’s statement, if someone else didn’t interrupt their conversation.
“Suzuki-chan! I’ll be going home now. Will you be alright?” Nakamura asked as she suddenly appeared into the lobby, looking into her bag to see if she didn’t leave anything behind.
“It isn’t my first night shift, Nakamura-san. I’ll be alright.” Suzuki answered her back, momentarily taking her eyes off of Yoshida and turning towards her friend.
Nakamura seemed to be finished going through her bag as she looked up with a smile on her face, before freezing at the sight of the waiter from the restaurant by the desk of the receptionist.
“Oh my… Yoshida-kun, it has been a while since we have met each other eye-to-eye!” She exclaimed, taking the said man out of his stupor when he heard her voice.
“It indeed has, Nakamura-chan. How have you been doing? I have heard that you are now in the housekeeping department, is that true?”
Nakamura nodded as a response to man’s last question. “As a matter of fact, I have asked the boss myself if he could transfer me to the housekeeping crew since I enjoyed it there a lot more than when I was working as a receptionist, to which he agreed.” She explained before eyeing Yoshida with a look of fondness in her eyes. “But enough about me… how have you been doing these days? And how are your kids? Didn’t your eldest daughter start school last spring?”
“I have been doing very well myself, Nakamura-chan, and yes, Sora has started school last spring where she is having a lot of fun. Asuka on the other hand… let’s just say, that she misses her big sister and can’t wait to see her every day after school.”
Nakamura laughed. “Your daughters are absolutely adorable, Yoshida-kun. When will you invite me again to see them? I’m sure the girls are missing their favourite aunt!” She finished off with a mischievous smile on her face.
Yoshida playfully smiled back at her. “Oh? I didn’t know you even needed an invite in the first place to visit my daughters, Nakamura-chan. Last time I checked, you just barged into my house one day and decided that my daughters needed to have a girls only day.”
Suzuki looked confused between the two elderly people, going back and forth with her head when one of them spoke. The way that the man and Nakamura talked to each other and the honourifics towards each other indicates that they are quite close, but before now, Suzuki has never even seen Yoshida, nor has she seen these two talked to each other even once.
“You two know each other?”
Seemingly remembering that they were not the only ones in the lobby, Nakamura turned towards Suzuki with a bright smile on her face.
“When I was started to work as a receptionist seven to eight years ago, Yoshida-kun was actually one of the first people I met! Someone requested a room service which Yoshida-kun delivered and asked me for their room number… I was new and still getting the hang of things around here that I accidentally gave him the wrong room number.” The older woman looked embarrassed as she reminisces the early days of working in the ryokan as a receptionist. “He was so kind when he came back and told me that I gave him the wrong room number that I just had to make it up for him by taking him out for lunch!”
Yoshida looked amused at the housekeeper’s embarrassment. “I remember that. You were quite insistent of repaying for ‘the trouble you caused’.” He laughed as Nakamura playfully hit his arm, before continuing her explanation.
“Since then, we have been very close friends and often went out for lunch together, I even got to meet his beautiful wife and was with them by both of their daughters childbirth…” Nakamura had her lips quirked up in a woeful smile but her eyes twinkled with amusement when she shared a look with Yoshida, as if they were sharing a inside joke that only they were privy to.
But before she could even ask what that look was all about, the older woman interrupted her thoughts. “But enough about that…” Nakamura said, as she suddenly turned towards the olive-green eyed man. “Shouldn’t you be on your way to pick up your daughters from daycare? The restaurant has been closed for about half an hour so what are still doing here, Yoshida-kun?”
The man in question gazed at the tray in his hands, before turning towards Nakamura to answer her question. “I was one of the few that stayed behind to close up the restaurant when we got a last-minute call from a guest that requested room service for his wife’s late-night craving. One of the chefs that was cleaning the kitchen, quickly wiped up the meal and I decided to deliver it to them while the others went home upon my request.”
Yoshida turned towards Suzuki with a meaningful look in his eyes. “That’s when I stumbled upon this young lady. I asked for the guest’s room number, and she refuses to give it to me since she doesn’t believe me that I’m part of the staff in the restaurant.” He exasperated explained to Nakamura with a tired sigh.
The elder woman frowned and looked at Suzuki with a question in her eyes. “I don’t blame me!” The receptionist quickly defended herself, pointing a finger at Yoshida’s outfit. “He doesn’t even have a uniform on. How should I know he was telling the truth?”
This time, Nakamura let her head turned between her two friends. “Did neither of you thought to give the guest, that requested the room service, a call to confirm Yoshida-kun’s words?”
Looking at their red faces, Nakamura knew the answer to her question, and she tiredly shook her head. “While I appreciate you looking out for scammers, Suzuki-chan, you should know that this is basic training of confirming if someone is speaking the truth or not and you, Yoshida-kun…” The waiter didn’t meet her eyes as Nakamura continued her lecture. “You should have known better than to change your uniform when you still had something to do to prevent this situation in the first place, not to mention that you are older than her and have been working in the restaurant longer than I worked in the ryokan!”
“Sorry, Nakamura-chan. As you have said, I have worked in the restaurant for so long that most workers already know about me so I didn’t think that changing out of my uniform would caused any problems.”
“I’m sorry too, Nakamura-san. I should have kept my training in mind and called the guest before making any conclusions…”
Nakamura still had a strict expression on her face as she spoke up. “You shouldn’t apologise to me rather apologise to each other and the guests that are still waiting for their food because of your hold up.”
The waiter and receptionist warily looked at each other, before the latter finally sighed and gave in. “I’m sorry, sir. I should have remembered my training and call Tanaka-sama before making any assumptions.”
Yoshida smiled at the younger girl, accepting her apology. “Call me Yoshida, kid, and I’m sorry too. I should have known better then to change out of my uniform.” Before looking sheepishly down at the tray still his hands. “But now that the doubts are lifted, could you please tell me what Tanaka-sama’s room number is?”
“My name is Suzuki Aiko, Yoshida-sama, and of course.” Suzuki said as she went through the computer for Tanaka’s room.
As the days went by, Yoshida was invited by Nakamura to join her and Suzuki in their breaks. Suzuki suspects it is because the older lady feels like she is at fault that she and the waiter hadn’t seen each other for so long. It was awkward at first, both at their first meeting fresh in mind, but with Nakamura coercing, both Yoshida and Suzuki slowly came out of their shell and warmed up to each other.
Suzuki quickly gained respect for the older man. With him being the most hardworking and experienced server that the receptionist has ever met, how could she not?
She has learned upon meeting Yoshida’s daughters, who were absolutely adorable, that his wife died during Asuka’s childbirth two years back. The admiration only grew at that as she knows. She knows all too well how it is to be a child of only one parent and has seen his mother struggle throughout her life at raising her.
He reminded her of the hummingbird. They’re known for its devotion, hard work and are respected as fierce fighters of their home and with Yoshida being so devoted to his work and the love, he has for his family… Suzuki couldn’t think of a better bird that could represent Yoshida.
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months, when suddenly two years went by in a snap of the fingers and in those years Suzuki’s family has grown from only being her and her mother to the employees from both the restaurant and the ryokan, especially with Nakamura and Yoshida being the closest to her.
The three of them continued to have their breaks in the garden on sunny days. The days that it was too cold to go outside, where the days where they would take Yoshida’s cards, that he always has on him for some reason, and play against each other until their breaks were over.
It made them grow closer to each other and it was nice. Suzuki never had friends that didn’t taunt her or gossip about her behind her back. Some would even say she didn’t have any true friends at all throughout her life, which she doesn’t agree with at all as she did have her birds and for awhile, they were enough to keep her company.
Doesn’t mean that the appreciation she feels towards both her seniors were any less. Suzuki doesn’t think she could ever really tell them how much they mean to her and how thankful she is of being one of their friends.
However, this routine couldn’t stick forever as nothing is eternal. Life would be boring otherwise, and Suzuki still needs to learn to not assume things to quickly. A lesson that would stick, a quest that would change a person for the better… And who could do that better then two children who were more then they seemed to be in a glance of an eye if one only could put their judgements aside and look beyond their soaked clothes and youthful appearance.
The rain tapped on the window every time a drop of water hit the glass. It was a soothing background noise as Suzuki typed away on her computer, organising the mess her last co-worker left behind after she took over his shift.
It was almost done and there wasn’t any reason to not put it away for later but Suzuki wasn’t someone that like procrastinating things, besides, perhaps the two kids that just came from the door that leads to the restaurant would also take it as a hint and leave before the embarrassment would make them flee with their tails between their legs.
No such luck as the receptionist was greeted by the oldest kid. “A good evening, my lady.”
Having to acknowledge them since the children directly called for her, Suzuki looked up from her computer to inspects the two kids more clearly now that they were closer. The older kid, who had teal-braided braids, wore some kind of western outfit with a brown cape and a particular flower attached to it.
The younger one wore a brown jacket with white leggings and –Were those sandals?!– underneath. Suzuki could just make out the silver-white hair underneath the white, woollen hat.
They didn’t look alike at all and still, Suzuki noticed two things the two kids seem to have in common.
One, they were absolutely soaked to the bone. Probably just came inside from the rain.
And two, they were probably sent by the most foolish scammer alive.
Really, they were like the aho-dori, or in English, the dumb bird or better known as the short-tailed albatross. Neither the birds nor these scammers had an ounce fear towards anyone, even enemies, to not even mention that while the albratross walks very awkwardly on land, these ‘siblings’ seem so out of place here it was not even hilarious.
If you’re going to scam someone by sending in kids, then at least make sure that they look like each other! Otherwise, no one will even take these kids seriously if they call each other siblings.
Suzuki let her gaze fall away from the young girl, wanting to get this over with. “Where are your parents, lad? Because it was obviously a boy, no girl whatsoever would say ‘my lady’ like they were in the Middle Ages, not like his appearance helping him.
The boy laughed as he answered. “I’m afraid they won’t be able to come for a long time, so it is just me and my sister.” Suzuki internally groaned at her predictions coming true. “We were hoping if we could get a room for a few nights?” The glance exchanged between the supposedly siblings didn’t go unnoticed by the woman, as she heard the boy talk further. “Yeah, we would like a room for a few nights.”
Suzuki nearly laughed at that. Did they really believe that she would fall for that? She hasn’t been working in the ryokan for nearly two years and not dealt with all kinds of people, but Suzuki was more professional than voicing her thoughts. So, she merely looked at the kids pointedly before moving her gaze to the computer, hoping to put an end to the conversation as quickly as possible.
“You will have to come back another time. All the rooms are fully booked for tonight and even if there were any rooms left then I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to pay for it anyways.”
A few minutes went by, and Suzuki was beginning to think that the two kids would finally give up and go back to their owner as she didn’t hear them talk anymore. That celebration was cut short when a moment later, a voice filled with amusement piped up. “That’s strange.”
She tried to ignore them, but when it was obvious that the two kids won’t leave, Suzuki let out a sigh before looking at them. “And what is so strange, lad?”
“I find it strange that despite it’s time for supper, no one has come to the restaurant.” He answered with a sweet smile that made Suzuki give the two her full attention.
“That’s because most people have turned in for the night.” Suzuki lied, hoping that would bring the end of the conversation, she really didn’t have any energy to deal with whoever have sent these children to scam her.
“While that makes sense can you tell me why I see a bunch of unused keys behind you?”
Suzuki immediately looked behind her and sure enough, there was a wall with numbers and under most of those numbers, there were keys hanging from a hook. –I forgot about those…– Now noticeably irritated, Suzuki turned back towards the kids and warned them that she knew that they couldn’t pay for a room.
When she was proven correct, they still didn’t leave and so Suzuki was brought into a dispute whether or not ‘the siblings’, as they were so keen on calling each other, could still book a room for a few nights, even if they can only pay for one. Because really, how can a musician be that good as to get the same amount of money every day to pay a room in the ryokan? Suzuki shook her head; nobody can be that good.
Suzuki would have won the debate too if Yoshida hadn’t joined in and taken the scammers’ sides, making their discussion go on for longer then necessary.
The dispute only ended when the green-eyed girl suggested to make a bet, as she wholeheartedly believes that her brother could bring an audience that could fill the restaurant up to the brim in this heavy rain.
If Suzuki had learned one thing in her two years of working as a receptionist in the ryokan, is that rainy days were the most quiet days as no men nor women would have it in their mind to walk in the rain to go to some restaurant while they could just snuggle up in their couch under some warm blankets.
So, with that in her mind and wanting to prove to Yoshida that her judgment was right, she agreed to the terms of the bet.
Leaving the children in Yoshida’s hands, Suzuki went to get her co-worker from his break as she wouldn’t want to miss the moment she won in the whole, wide world.
She smirked, overjoyed to teach the insolent brother and overconfident sister a lesson or two.
And perhaps, this will also teach the aho-dori, who has sent this pair of ‘siblings’ to scam them, also a lesson as to never scheme against her workplace ever again!
Suzuki’s brain began to reboot when the last song ended, before a break was called in. She blinked, staring at the spot the boy was performing a moment ago, and then blinked again.
–…What?
Was he…?
…Is he?…
How is he that good?!–
Racking her brain for an answer, she didn’t notice a presence stopping beside her, watching her stare on to the make-shift podium. Which is the reason why she flinches when she suddenly heard a deep voice beside her talk.
“He sounds pretty good, doesn’t he, Suzuki-chan? I’m sure Nakamura-chan would have love to hear his performance just now. Too bad, she is too caught up in her own chores.”
Suzuki briefly glanced at Yoshida as she came down from the fright he gave her, and shrugged in faux disinterested when she turned back to watch ‘the siblings’ interact with a soaking wet, raven-haired boy.
“It was alright. I don’t know why people seems to enjoy it that much though. I have heard better from professional musicians.”
“And yet, it takes years for those professionals to reach the level skill that this boy already seems to master at a young age.” Was the amused replied she got from the man she admired.
Suzuki huffed in annoyance, but didn’t respond back to Yoshida, who looked at her with a raised eyebrow before also turning towards the three children.
“Whether or not he is up to your standards of music, the fact remains that he won the bet.” Yoshida nonchalantly said, breaking Suzuki gaze from the children as she looked around the restaurant. All the tables were indeed occupied by guests, who were talking and laughing with each other.
In all her years working, she never felt this much joy or contentment radiating from their guests and she had to physically refrain herself from the smile that wants to break onto her lips. That is when she noticed how a few guests were already gathering their things to leave, and a plan began to form in her mind.
“All musicians should have their audience’s attention until the end of their performance.” Suzuki began, hoping against hope that this will work. “If the lad can keep the guests from leaving the restaurant with one last song, then and only then, will I let him, and his sister keep the room.”
If Suzuki saw the concern flicker across Yoshida’s face, then she elected to ignore it. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think, Suzuki-chan? The lad has already proven himself… Look around, the restaurant has never been this busy around this time of year!”
Suzuki briefly looked at Yoshida, before answering the man’s concern with a vague comment. “You can think of it as a last test to confirm that the two kids aren’t send in by some scammers.”
Yoshida sighed before leaving without saying another word to Suzuki, and the woman knew that the man was disappointed in her. Suzuki watched as Yoshida relayed the new condition to the insolent boy.
Suzuki watched them for a while, watching how after Yoshida left, the raven-haired boy broke down crying when the teal-braided teenager had said something towards him and how both the children hugged him.
It made Suzuki look away. She felt a bit uncomfortable, like she was intruding on a private moment between a family… Which is ridiculous, since the ‘siblings’ weren’t siblings to begin with, and they had just met the other boy. How can they be so comfortable with each other that they already look like a real family?
The murmurs around the restaurant down, causing Suzuki to lift her head up and see what all the other people were looking at. The teal-braided boy was back at the front, lifting up his lyre and immediately began to sing a melodious song.
“I see your monsters
I see your pain
Tell me your problems
I'll chase them away
I'll be your lighthouse
I'll make it okay
When I see your monsters
I'll stand there so brave
And chase them all away”
Suzuki eyes widened. She knew it wasn’t for her, not when the teenager was so intently staring at the raven-haired boy, but by the Gods… didn’t it bring her so much comfort.
It was like a soothing balm over the scars she gained over the years, a melodious song healing up the cracks of her heart when her father had left her and her mother… It was like the song was comforting a crying child that she didn’t know she had locked up in a cage in the depths of her heart.
“In the dark we, we, we
Stand apart we, we
Never see that the things we need are staring right at us
You just want to hide, hide, hide
Never show your smile, smile
Stand alone when you need someone
Its the hardest thing of all
That you see are the bad, bad, bad memories
Take your time, you’ll find me”
Suzuki blinked, trying to get the sting in her eyes to fade away, when she was suddenly pulled into a pair of sturdy arms.
“You don’t have to be right all the time, Suzuki-chan…” Suzuki heard Yoshida murmur into her hair as she fell helplessly into his arms. “…nor do you have to be strong every minute of every day… Suzuki-chan… It’s okay to cry.”
“I see your monsters
I see your pain
Tell me your problems
I'll chase them away
I'll be your lighthouse
I'll make it okay
When I see your monsters
I'll stand there so brave
And chase them all away”
Suzuki blinked again. The stinging in her eyes burning slightly when she buried her face into Yoshida’s shoulder, not saying anything as she let tears flow freely from her eyes down to the man’s work uniform.
“I can see the sky, sky, sky
Beautiful tonight, night
When you breathe why can't you see
The clouds are in your head
I will stay there there, there, there
No need to fear, fear
When you need to talk it out with someone you can trust
What you see are the bad, bad, bad memories
Take your time you'll find me”
“That’s it. Let it all out…” Yoshida continued to whisper into her hair, hiding Suzuki from any people that might look their way. “It’s going to be okay, Suzuki-chan… You’re a brilliant young woman, who still has her whole life ahead of her… I’m sure that fate has amazing things planned out for you.”
“I see your monsters
I see your pain
Tell me your problems
I'll chase them away
I'll be your lighthouse
I'll make it okay
When I see your monsters
I'll stand there so brave
And chase them all away
I'll chase them all away”
Suzuki didn’t know why she was crying or when she realised that the burning in her eyes were the tears falling onto Yoshida’s shoulders. As she clings onto the older man a bit longer, hiding away from the world, she waited for her tears to dry.
“You've got the chance to see the light
Even in the darkest night
And I will be here like you were for me
So just let me in”
The receptionist broke the hug, looking away as she wiped her stray tears. “Thank you, Yoshida-sama.” Suzuki said not looking at the man she admired and cried on. “And sorry… about your shirt.” She vaguely gestured towards the wet patch on Yoshida’s shoulder.
“Cause I see your monsters
I see your pain
Tell me your problems
I'll chase them away
I'll be your lighthouse
I'll make it okay
When I see your monsters
I'll stand there so brave”
Yoshida looked towards where Suzuki was pointing at, before smiling kindly at her. “It’s alright, Suzuki-chan. It will be wash off.” The man replied, shrugging the apology off, before looking at Suzuki with concern etched into his eyes. “But are you alright?”
“I see your monsters
I see your pain
Tell me your problems
I'll chase them away
I'll be your lighthouse
I'll make it okay
When I see your monsters
I'll stand there so brave
And chase them all away”
Suzuki bit a smile back at the worry, before nodding. “I’ll be, Yoshida-sama…” She answered as she briefly turned towards the make-shift stage when the music ended. Both the teal-braided teenager and the raven-haired were standing in the front and as the former bowed, not letting go of the other boy’s hand, Suzuki turned towards Yoshida with a nod to herself.
“Please let them know that they will get a room free when they come to me.” The receptionist said before bowing towards Yoshida, knowing that the older man would get what she was saying. “Now, please allow me to leave to get back to work, Yoshida-sama.”
And just like Suzuki thought, Yoshida understood what she meant, and a bright smile appeared on his face as he nodded back to Suzuki. “Of course, Suzuki-chan… If you need anything then you know where to find me.” Yoshida said, looking meaningful at Suzuki as he wasn’t only referring to the free guest room that will be given to the siblings, but also to the crying child that Suzuki keeps inside herself.
“I know.” The receptionist softly whispers before turning around and going through door to the hallway to prepare the siblings’ room for the night… It’s not like they would have to pay of it, at least not this night.
Days past and Suzuki had only seen the siblings a handful of times, the boy more so than his little sister, which makes sense since the woman heard that the raven-haired boy, who has been taken under the siblings’ wings, had fallen ill.
“A fever.” Venti, as Suzuki had learned what the children names were, had said when he stopped by the reception before his performances, always making some time to chat with her whenever the teal-braided boy saw her working. “Nahi had said that she and Nakamura-san will take care of Ranpo-kun while I perform in the restaurant to keep our room.”
“Will he be alright?” Suzuki had asked in return as she remembered how ill the raven-haired boy had looked when he was unconscious in Venti’s arms as she giving Nahida’s the keys towards their room
“It would be a rough couple of days until Ranpo-kun gets better according to my little sis, but she is sure that he will be alright, and I trust her with my heart!” Venti smiled brightly, a smile that reassured Suzuki’s heart that everything will be okay with Ranpo.
And it wasn’t only because of his smile that the tension in Suzuki’s shoulders left her, because while Suzuki had way less interactions with Nahida than she had with Venti, the girl with the woollen hat was one wise kid. Probably even wiser than most elders Suzuki had spoken with.
–“You seemed troubled, Suzuki-san.” Nahida casually said as she handed the money for the room they were staying in as Venti was tending to Ranpo and so, he couldn’t give it to Suzuki himself. “Is there something you want to say?” The girl asked.
Suzuki was silence as she took the money from Nahida, raking her mind when she had slipped that Nahida noticed her mood. Yoshida and Nakamura wouldn’t have said anything when Suzuki had successfully avoided them the entire day, and even if they did, they wouldn’t say anything to somebody else… So, how did Nahida know that something was up with her?
“Why would you think that Nahida-chan?” Suzuki instead asked, feigning her ignorance.
But it was like Nahida could see through the ruse as she smiles with a motherly smile that shouldn’t be on her face at her age. “Do you want to talk about it?” The girl with the woollen hat questioned and Suzuki was already shaking her head before Nahida could even finish the sentence.
“No. Thank you, Nahida-chan, but I think this isn’t something I should talk with a kid about.” The receptionist bluntly said when it was clear that she couldn’t lie to the little girl. –Besides, I don’t think I can even talk about how that man left us, leaving my mother to raise me all by herself.–
“The past is something hard to let go.” Suzuki froze as she heard those words coming from the girl’s mouth, wondering if she didn’t have said her thoughts out loud as Nahida continued. “If you don’t let yourself feel the pain of the scars left behind, don’t let yourself mourn of the childhood you had to let go off so soon, then it is almost impossible.”
The smile that Nahida had on her face was a strange one. It was like it was saying that a little girl knew more of Suzuki than the receptionist knew of herself. “You don’t have to forgive the ones that hurt you, but if you can forgive yourself, accept that you cannot change the past then I’m sure that you can heal the scars of it.”
Suzuki soon unfroze from her place, but when she wanted to say something back, she found herself gaping at the young child. She closed her mouth, before closing her mouth as no words came out, swallowing the heavy lump inside her throat, Suzuki hoarsely began to speak.
“Wha… Why are you telling me this?”
Nahida shrugged. “Just something I heard from someone during my travels with nii-san that wanted to share with you, Suzuki-san. It is good advice, don’t you think?”
The said woman nodded to Nahida’s question. “It is.” She answered truthfully, wondering why in the ever-loving hell she was even considering what Nahida was saying when the girl was still a child and children say the most random things all the time… Don’t they?
Nahida’s lips briefly quirked up in an amused smiled before it turned a little more innocent. “I have also heard that talking to someone you trust or writing your thoughts and feelings down will help you process them better. Do you think it is true, Suzuki-san?”
“Most likely…” The receptionist hesitantly answered again, having heard of them too from others, but never having tried them herself.
Nahida smiled innocently up to Suzuki, before bowing to the older woman as to take her permission to her leave but before she could turn into the hall that leads towards guest rooms, she turned to Suzuki for the last time.
“Life is too short for us to constantly think about the bad things that happened when we have so many positive things surrounding us in the present, don’t you think, Suzuki-san?”
The woman in question didn’t say anything back, nor did she immediately go back to work. Suzuki merely stared at the place by the entrance of the hall where Nahida just stood, smiling, a few seconds ago.
Suzuki blinked her eyes multiple times, before shaking her head. –Did I just get free therapy advice from a literal child?… And actually, considering taking it too?– The receptionist silently wondered as she slowly went back to work. –…Maybe I should start a small journal on how I’m feeling every day…– She silently muses, before looking around the lobby and taking a new, blank, notebook from her bag and started writing in it.–
So, maybe this pair of siblings weren’t sent in by a scammer, as Venti duly pays for the room after each performance every day, whether it is giving the money himself or by Nahida, Suzuki always got the money. And maybe, they weren’t like the oha-dori as she originally thought but neither could Suzuki compare them to just one bird.
Like Nakamura was a sparrow, Yoshida a hummingbird and her own mother could be described as a swallow, known for their tireless efforts to build their nest and raise their young as the hard working and diligent birds they are, Suzuki was a lost for words when she found out that she couldn’t describe the pair of siblings as just one but two birds.
The reason why it stumped Suzuki so, was because it never happened before. With each and every person she came across, they could perfectly be described to one bird or another, but the way Nahida and Venti hold themselves, as if they were more then they let anyone show… Suzuki couldn’t choose which bird fits either one the best.
Like for Nahida, her innocence reminds Suzuki of the fluffy shima enaga bird that symbolises purity with their white pristine feathers but also harmony as the birds gentle nature represents the interpersonal relationship between people and the birds also have a strong connection to nature, that Nahida seems to have as well whenever she would join Nakamura for a walk in the ryokan’s garden. It was like the grass was a little greener and the flowers little more brighter whenever Nahida walks by… However, despite having that innocent demeanour, Suzuki knew that Nahida was wise beyond her years like the owl.
As for Venti, at first Suzuki thought that the uguisu, Japanese bush warbler, described the lad the best as it was known for it’s song, bringing in spring revival, hope and an end to hard (winter) times and whenever Suzuki heard Venti’s music, it was really like bringing a hope in ones’ heart for the times that will come. But the more Suzuki got to know the teal-braided boy, the more the red-crowned crane also seemed to fit Venti.
Venti has sort calmness, a peacefulness, that surrounds him, something the red-crowned cranes were also known for, besides longevity, good fortune and fidelity. It was like a soothing wind on a hot, sunny day.
And then there was Ranpo… To be frank, Suzuki didn’t like the boy, like not at all. It wasn’t because of his attitude nor his personality but more because of his behaviour. Ranpo would say something outrageous, something that nobody should or would know, and then act all confused as if he didn’t understand why everyone looked so surprised… Well, except Nahida and Venti, they seemed to know beforehand what Ranpo was going to say, which was strange on itself, but Suzuki had made her peace with the sibling’s strangeness so that is nothing new to her with Ranpo however… She still didn’t like him.
“It’s a wonderful day and yet you seem faraway.” A teenage voice spoke up, causing to shake Suzuki off her thoughts and look at the boy walking beside her. Venti had a concern in his eyes as he continued. “A thought disturbing your joy. If I may ask, what is the cause of your peace being destroyed today, Suzuki-san?”
The woman-in-question momentarily blinked before taking in her surroundings. Right… when Ranpo had regained some strength to walk around for at least a few minutes, Nahida and Venti had come to the conclusion that the raven-haired boy also needed fresh air for a speedy recovery and to not be hold up in the guest room all day.
And as to not strain Ranpo too much of physical labour, Nahida came to the idea for her siblings to join her and Nakamura on their daily walk through the ryokan’s garden. They agreed, and somehow through this whole ordeal, Suzuki got roped into it too.
Maybe Nakamura saw how much Suzuki missed their walks or maybe the older woman thought that it was time that the receptionist would get some fresh air too. Whatever it may be, currently, Suzuki was with the group walking between the flowers and streams of water.
Suzuki silently eyed Venti, before turning her gaze to the people that were walking in front of them. “…What’s the deal with Ranpo-kun?”
“Mhm?” Venti questioned, also letting his eyes wander to where Ranpo was talking excitedly to Nakamura and Nahida. “I don’t see anything peculiar. What is it that seem to catch your eye from the familiar?”
“…Is Ranpo-kun always this strange?” Suzuki frowned, that was probably not the correct way to word it. “I mean… a few days ago for example, when Nahida and Ranpo went to the restaurant to surprise you while you were performing, they passed by the lobby. I was looking for something and Ranpo shouldn’t even know what it was nor where it should have been, but he said that the thing I was looking for was locked in one of the drawers of the reception desk… He was correct too, while I know for sure he had never seen me with it before and so shouldn’t have known what I was looking for in the first place.”
Suzuki bite her lip. It wasn’t the first time it happened, but it was the first time that really stood out to her, since the thing she was looking for was her notebook where she has been taken Nahida’s advice and started writing her personal things in it. Suzuki was really careful in when and where she wrote, making sure that it was always when she was sure she was completely alone, never during rush hours nor breaks. Suzuki was particularly troubled that day that she forgot where she usually had hide it, and she hasn’t told anyone that she holds a dairy. So, how could Ranpo have known?
“Ah.” Was the reply Suzuki got and when she went to confront Venti about the obscure answer, she was stunned by the gentle smile directed towards the raven-haired boy in front of them.
“Yeah, I can see why it might confuse you.” Venti muses as he briefly meets Suzuki’s startled expression. “But it isn’t that hard to understand either.” He teases.
That seems to bring Suzuki back to reality. “Then why don’t you tell me?”
“Mhmm, I could, I could…”
“But?”
“I want your answer on a question.”
“What kind of question?”
Venti laughed. “Nothing to be suspicious off, my dear Suzuki-san… Just a question to quell a curiousity.” the boy knocked his head to the side as he asked his question. “For the days me and Nahi has spent here, I noticed that Yoshida-san is always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave… Why is that?”
Suzuki evaded the boy’s gaze, staring at Nakamura who was replying to something Ranpo had said. “While I think Nakamura-san would be probably a better person at giving you an answer… I can tell you this.”
The woman sighed. Yoshida had let her know that he didn’t care if someone knew or not… it still felt like that she was breaking her elder’s trust if she told Venti something private about him without speaking to Yoshida first. But even if she didn’t say something, then Venti would still find out either from Nakamura or anyone else that worked in the ryokan or restaurant long enough… and then she would lose her chance to get to know what Ranpo’s deal was too.
“Yoshida-sama‘s wife died during childbirth.” The silence hangs between the two people walking together with the other three far before them. “He has been daily taking up double shifts to pay off the taxes and the medical expenses of his late wife as well as provide his daughters with the best care… which probably why you have seen him coming in as one of the first and also being the last one to leave.”
A frown had appeared on Venti’s face and it deepened the more she talked, causing Suzuki’s heart to tighten. She didn’t know why as she wasn’t even close to the teal-braided teenager in the first place, but she desperately wanted that troubled expression to go away.
It was as if Venti noticed Suzuki’s dilemma as he smiled brightly up at her. “Thank you for the answer, Suzuki-san. And since you quelled my curiosity, it seems only fair I quell yours!”
The receptionist smiled back with a nod. “I’m all ears, Venti-kun.”
“It is really simple actually,” Venti started with a gleam in his eyes, “Ranpo-kun is a genius without himself knowing he is a genius.”
Suzuki suddenly stopped, her eyebrows furrowing together. “That doesn’t make sense, Venti-kun… How could someone not know that they are a genius? Haven’t his parents noticed or doesn’t Ranpo-kun himself notice that he knows more then the others?”
“Ranpo-kun…” Venti stopped alongside Suzuki, seemingly to think how to explain it so that it would be easy to understand before his gaze land on a flock of swallows playing around the birdbath. Aqua-green eyes light up at the sight. “I was told that you hold a profound knowledge about birds, Suzuki-san.”
It wasn’t question, yet Suzuki felt compelled to answer anyways. “Yes, I do, Venti-kun. I always love birds. I used to beg my mother to take me to special birds' parks where I could watch the birds all day.” She had a nostalgic smile on her face as she and Venti watched the birds play with the water.
“I’m a birdlover myself, so I understand the feeling. Each different species of birds has such unique singing to it, that I can’t help but be inspired by it!” The teal-braided boy brightly answered. A swallow seemed to pick up their audience and he tilted his head when he caught the sight of Venti, seemingly recognising him, as the bird flew up towards them. “Although that makes me wonder…” Venti hummed with a quiet thoughtfulness as the swallow landed on his finger. “Tell me, Suzuki-san, how do birds recognise which song to sing that belongs to their kin?”
Suzuki stared at Venti with wide eyes, eyeing the swallow on Venti’s finger as she answered the teal-braided boy’s question. “They learn from their parents.”
“So, even if they are around other birds, they would still sing the same song their parents taught them?”
“That would be correct, Venti-kun.”
Venti’s lips quirk up as if he knew the answer Suzuki would give him. He let the silence fall between them as he nuzzled the bird with his nose, causing the swallow to let out a pleased chirp.
Suzuki’s mouth was now wide open. She has never seen a bird be so familiar with a human, they have never met, not even one they see regularly… and that too a wild bird?
“Why do you look like you have seen a ghost, Suzuki-san?” Venti’s eyes were filled with amusement as they look up at Suzuki’s.
The woman shook her head in disbelief, before turning to look at the swallow on Venti’s finger, then at Venti and then back at the swallow again. “How… how are you doing that?”
“Mhm?” Venti had a hint of confusion creeping into his eyes, before he followed Suzuki’s gaze and smiled. “Honestly? I don’t know! Guess I attract birds like catnip do to cats.”
“…if you say so…” Suzuki said, still in disbelief, as she tries to push those thoughts in the back off her mind and focus back on the conversation. “But what has ‘knowing how birds learn their song’ to do with Ranpo-kun not knowing he is a genius?”
“You answered the question yourself, Suzuki-san.” Venti slightly chuckled when the receptionist pinched her eyebrows together in confusion. “Ranpo-kun…” Suzuki snapped her eyes back at the voice, attentively listening as the reason that this whole conversation started was finally being answered. “…is a bird that grew up between others that sing the same songs, but once he was the only bird of his species left… He had to navigate through the different kind of birds that each sing a different song. Ranpo-kun is out of tune with the singing of other birds that he doesn’t know it himself as he was never taught nor saw anything different then the birds he grew up with.”
It was like a light-switch flipped on in Suzuki’s mind. Ranpo grew up in an environment that he never felt like he was a genius since everyone he knew was a genius, but then… Something must have happened to have the boy living in the streets.
“He is like a nightingale.” Venti continued, smiling as the bird on his finger nuzzled him back. “A young, lonely nightingale that is now thrusted into a world he is not familiar with when he only grew up with his own kin, only knowing a song that doesn’t align with the rest as they either sing it differently or uses a completely new tune.”
Suzuki was beginning to understand it now. Ranpo was like a fledgling trust into world where he knowingly sings a different tune then others, but he doesn’t know nor see why he is so different when it is so clear to everyone else… or maybe, he doesn’t know what everyone else know.
“Nii-san! Suzuki-san!” The people in question looked up at the voice, and saw Nakamura, Nahida and Ranpo looking back at them from afar with the latter frantically waving at them with both his arms. “Why are you guys so far behind?! Come on!” Ranpo continued to yell.
Suzuki looked at Venti, who was already staring at her with an amused smile on his face. “It seems like we have to catch up, Suzuki-san.” The teal-braided boy said to her.
“It seems so.” The receptionist agreed, watching as Venti let the swallow on his finger go. The bird flew up, but before he went back to his friends playing around the birdbath, the swallow nuzzled the Venti’s cheek, causing the boy to let out a surprise chuckle. With a pleased and final chirp, the swallow flew back to his friends.
Suzuki shook her head at the whole interaction, still in disbelief at what just happened. “You are like your music; they can attract anyone at any time.”
Venti raises an eyebrow at Suzuki. “Well… they do say that you can know a musician from their music.” A smile threatened to take over on the woman’s face at the teal-braided boy’s answer.
“Are you guys coming or not?” Ranpo yelled from afar.
Suzuki and Venti glanced at each other, and this time, even Suzuki was amused at Ranpo’s impatience. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.” The brown-eyed woman said with silent laughter shining behind her glasses. Venti agreed, before abruptly bowing to Suzuki while holding out his hand towards her.
“Then, shall we go, my lady?”
This time, Suzuki couldn’t hold back the smile that lights her face up in a much softer expression. “You are being ridiculous, Venti-kun.” Yet, she still grabbed the boy’s hand. “We shall.” The receptionist answers.
Venti placed Suzuki’s hand in the crook of his arm and like a true gentleman, he led her to the rest of group that were waiting for them.
“Did you at least talk good things about me?” Ranpo called them out as soon as Venti and Suzuki were in earshot.
The teal-braided boy slightly chuckled as he let go of Suzuki’s hand and wrapped his arm around Ranpo’s shoulders. “My, my, Ranpo-kun… Do you not trust me?”
Ranpo pouted. “Next time when you talk about me, do it where I can hear you. I want to hear you sing my praises, nii-san!”
“Don’t do that, nii-chan.” Nahida interfered as she grabbed Venti’s other hand. “Nii-san’s ego is already bigger than it should be.”
“Hey!” Came the affronted yell out of the raven-haired boy as Venti laughed at his siblings' antics. While Nahida and Ranpo continued to bicker with each other, Nakamura came and walked beside Suzuki.
“They’re a bright bunch, aren’t they, Suzuki-chan?”
The receptionist looked at the kids before her and found that she doesn’t mind anymore when Ranpo would say something he isn’t supposed to know.
She didn’t dislike Ranpo anymore.
Maybe it was because she finally understands where the boy is coming from, or maybe it is the fact that she can see herself in him. Suzuki knew how ruthless society is to someone that doesn’t fits the part, as she remembered how she was treated by the same people after her parents were divorced.
She didn’t have a bird for Ranpo yet as he is still a fledgling. A fledgling trying to understand the world on its own.
However, when Suzuki looked at how Ranpo and Nahida were still bickering, while still holding Venti’s hand as the latter guided them through the garden. She understood that perhaps Ranpo wasn’t alone in this anymore.
And so, she answered her senior accordingly. “They’re a family, Nakamura-san.”
Suzuki had just finished checking in a family of five in one of the rooms of the ryokan. They were coming back from their holiday when their car broke down and wouldn’t be mended until the next day. The parents had just enough money to pay for the mechanic until their next pay cheque arrived.
In short, they couldn’t pay for the room.
They came up with the solution that the parents would leave their personal details behind and would get send in the bill of their stay. Once the parents receive their salary, they would pay back.
It wasn’t perfect, nor did Suzuki trust them but as reminded herself of the first time she judged Yoshida, then Nahida and Venti, misunderstood Ranpo and the other times she treated other people with coldness, Suzuki let the family have the room.
She isn’t perfect, nor will she ever be, but she is learning and that is what matters to most to everyone Suzuki holds dear.
The family gratefully went to their room and Suzuki bid them a pleasant stay when she heard him.
A balding man in his late forties came furious up to her desk and Suzuki recognised him as the man that had checked in not so long ago. Tominaga Ikari is his name.
Setting herself up for a difficult interaction, Suzuki put on her customer service smile. “Hello sir, what can I help with you today?”
“I want to speak to the maid that cleaned my room!”
“And is there a reason for your request, sir?” Suzuki asked. Her mind was running on who was on the housekeeping duty today.
“Someone stole my watch and the last person I saw was that maid coming from my room when I returned from the restaurant.” The anger in his voice was barely concealed and Suzuki nodded, trying to pacify the man as much as she could.
“I’ll get the person that cleaned your room, right away.” Suzuki began to ring the number to the housekeeping crew that were on the floor above the lobby and restaurant.
“Housekeeping here, you’re speaking with Nakamura Sakura.” Came in a familiar voice through Suzuki’s ears.
“Ah, hello Nakamura-san. This is Suzuki Aiko speaking. Do you know who cleaned room 9 today, just a few hours earlier?”
“Oh yes, of course! Why do you ask, Suzuki-chan?”
“Could you perhaps send them to the lobby right now, Nakamura-san? Someone wants to speak with them.”
The other line was silent, perhaps hearing the seriousness in Suzuki’s voice as Nakamura’s own voice softened as she answered, “I will be there in a moment.”
The line hangs up and Suzuki turned back to the fuming man as she puts the phone down. “Someone is sending them in at this moment, sir.”
Tominaga didn’t say anything, just huffed and began to impatiently tap his foot away to Suzuki’s growing irritation.
Maybe she should had also warn Nakamura about the man’s anger… At least, the poor person that had cleaned his room would have then been prepared for getting the brunt of the frustration when they arrive. Even though, now that Suzuki is thinking about it, Nakamura is going to be with them so maybe Suzuki doesn’t have to worry about it at all then. Nakamura can surely diffuse the situation between her co-worker and the guest like she did in the beginning of Suzuki’s and Yoshida’s relationship.
–Now, if only that man can stop tapping his feet.–
Fortunately, Suzuki didn’t have to wait long for Nakamura to arrive, but even in those minutes of waiting she had to hold herself back from snarking at the Tominaga’s impatience practically radiating off of him.
“I came here as soon as I could.” Nakamura came into the lobby with her gentle smile. “So, who is that person that wanted to meet me?”
–oh no.– Suzuki had closed her eyes as the realisation hit her. She had thought that someone had cleaned the man’s room, but she didn’t take into the account that it was Nakamura who did it. She should have really warned her about the Tominaga’s temper on the phone.
This will either end up in a misunderstanding or someone is going to get kick out if they don’t calm down anytime soon.
And seeing the way the Tominaga’s hostility doubled at the sight of Nakamura, it might as well be the latter option.
“You!…” The man growled, his eyes set on Nakamura. “You were the one that cleaned room number 9, weren’t you?”
Nakamura looked worried as she felt the man’s hostility before she nodded. “Yes, sir. I was the one that cleaned your room.” Her eyes glinted confusion as she looked between the man and Suzuki. “Can someone please tell me what’s wrong? Why was I called to the lobby?”
Suzuki stepped from behind the counter of the reception, stepping in between Tominaga and Nakamura before the former could do anything to her senior. “This man’s watch had been stolen, Nakamura-san.” Suzuki gently began to explain to the older woman. “You are the last person, he saw, coming from his room.”
“Oh.” Nakamura realised, understanding where the man’s anger is coming from other than that is he an asshole. Although, the latter might just be Suzuki’s opinion.
“Yes ‘oh’.” Tominaga repeated, rolling his eyes as he did so. “Where is my watch?!”
“Let’s not accuse anyone of anything yet.” Suzuki tried to mediate, which isn’t her strong point it seems as Tominaga just spoke over her.
“Well? Answer me damn woman!”
“Sir, I can assure you that while I was the one who cleaned your room, I took nothing from it.” Nakamura answered, way too calm in Suzuki’s opinion.
“I want my watch back!” The man yelled like a child throwing a tantrum, and perhaps Suzuki would have more sympathy if the man wasn’t a grown adult who could very well talk civil.
“I assure you that I took nothing when I cleaned your room.”
The commotion got louder. Tominaga not willing to believe any word of Nakamura, Nakamura trying to pacify the man and Suzuki tried to remind them to keep their voices down.
It wasn’t working, to say the least.
It seems like that the loud noises had reached the restaurant as Yoshida and Venti came through the door and looked at the commotion caused by the three people the lobby.
“My, my, a ruckus could be heard to the moon and back. What is the problem, if I may ask?” Venti cheerfully asked, coming in between the three people in the room and stopping them from arguing further as they looked down at the interrupter.
“This maid,” Tominaga spat out in barely concealed frustration, “has stolen my watch.”
“I did nothing of such. I was merely cleaning your room when you where dining in the restaurant, I left shortly after. I did not touch a thing.” Nakamura fiercely defended herself, glaring back at the man.
“Dear sir,” Venti began after he had put the reason of the commotion together, “I believe that Nakamura-san is correct. She wouldn’t have stolen a thing from your room.”
“Then who else could it be? She was the last person in my room!”
“Now, now, let’s just calm down and talk like grown adults, mhm?” Venti tried to calm the man down, and Suzuki blinked at the teenager who seemed to do a better job at pacifying the situation than her. Perhaps, it is also because Venti had to often interfere between the bickering of his siblings.
In any case, while Venti calmed the situation somewhat down to an agreeable volume, Suzuki slowly step back to stand beside Yoshida.
“Yoshida-sama, could you perhaps warn the Nahida-chan and Ranpo-kun that their brother might come back later to their room then usual?”
Her senior nodded. “Good thinking, Suzuki-chan. They must be worried sick as Venti-kun’s performance already ended late, and now this...”
Suzuki wanted to bask in his praise, but looking at Yoshida’s expression, there was a panicked expression on his usual calm face. Suzuki didn’t know why the waiter was panicked nor did she know how to calm him down as the man began to rush to the sibling’s room.
Tominaga was shouting again causing Suzuki to put her attention back to the situation in front of her and leaving Yoshida’s panicked expression in the back of her mind as she tried to help Venti to calm everyone down so that other guests won’t be disturbed and no one would do anything they would regret in the heat of the moment.
–Someone is definitely getting kicked out today.– Suzuki thought while trying to speak over Tominaga for him to listen.
In the back of her mind, Suzuki knew that she was crying.
Venti is in the belief that he should protect the thief by claiming that he stole Tominaga’s watch, not to mention that he also professed that the first night he performed in the restaurant, the night they made the bet, it was only by pure luck that he was able to fill all the seats in the restaurant.
Something Suzuki knew was a lie. She may be quick to judge but she also knows when she is in the wrong. The way his music resonated with everyone in the room, the way his song has moved her, and so many others, hearts.
That night, and many others that followed afterwards, could not only be a mere ‘coincidence’.
Suzuki was sure that her seniors would agree with her.
So, how Venti got a hold of the watch and why was Venti protecting the real thief? Perhaps, Suzuki will never get the answer, but what she did know was the slap that echoed around the room.
A slap that was caused by Tominaga.
And to make matters worse, that man was still cursing out the teenager even after he gotten his watch back. Suzuki tried really hard to calm herself down, not wanting to cause any more damage that has already been done, not wanting to shake Venti in front of everyone and demand an answer from him when he was already going to through so much.
The receptionist came back to reality when she heard Yoshida speak in a tone that was so unusual from him, but so satisfying to hear.
“Now that you got your watch back, sir. I seek for you to pack your bags and leave this ryokan.”
The man spluttered at Yoshida. “And why would I have to leave the ryokan when it is proven that this brat stole my watch?!”
Suzuki wiped away her tears, not wanting to pass up the opportunity to bring some karma back Tominaga. “Disturbing the peace for the guests in the ryokan by yelling loudly when you could also speak in a normal tone and harassing a staff member and a minor are all against the rules of the ryokan, which you broke. So, before we call the police, we request you to leave the ryokan within an hour.”
“You... You can’t be serious?! I did nothing wrong?!”
“We can call the police now, if that’s what you wish?” Suzuki asked, not hiding a predatory glint in her red-rimmed eyes.
“You…You….” A vein seemed to pop out of his head, Tominaga stared at Suzuki with an open mouth before closing it and opening it again, but this time, the words came out. “I’ll sue you! I’ll sue you and this goddamn ryokan! Not mention the restaurant too! I will make sure you’ll be drowning in debt.”
“We will take that up to our bosses.” Yoshida coldly answered, ushering Tominaga back to his room to make him pack his stuff and leave the ryokan.
Venti still had that big wide grin on his face, as if he wasn’t fazed at all… As if he wasn’t just hit and verbally abused just a minute ago.
The teal-braided boy bowed towards three adults in the room. “My apologies for causing such a ruckus and for stealing something from a guest. I will leave my money at the reception to fulfil the true result of the bet and leave the ryokan after I pack my bags. If there are any other punishments, then let me know and I will happily accept them.”
Suzuki had to look away, guilt gnawing at her. Ranpo was looking as mad as she felt while Nahida had a sad, knowing look in her eyes that makes Suzuki wonder if the little girl knew who Venti was protecting? She probably did, after all she and Venti have been very close even when Suzuki first met them.
“Oh, no honey. Please stand up straight… It wasn’t your fault, dear.” Nakamura reassures the boy. “I don’t know how and why you have that watch, but what I do know is that you couldn’t have stolen it. I just… I don’t understand why you would lie like that.”
Suzuki didn’t either, and she doesn’t think they will get an answer any time soon as she watches Venti tilted his head in thought.
“I remember reading the rules of the ryokan, in which it states that if someone steals or damages something from another guest, they were requested to pay a fine for the damages and return the stolen goods, before leaving the ryokan.” The teal-braided teenager turned to look at Suzuki. “Am I right, Suzuki-san?”
The receptionist sighed as she wiped away some stray tears from her red-rimmed eyes. “You are right, Venti-kun.” And she was so, so tired from the commotion of today.
Suzuki sighed as she watched the siblings leave. It would be a lie if she says that she wasn’t going to miss them.
“I should be going. I need to help the others by closing up the restaurant.” Yoshida mumbled, his eyes faraway and Suzuki had noticed his off behaviour since this whole mess started.
His panicked expression when he realised that Nakamura was accused as the thief, his horror when Venti announced that he was the thief… Suzuki was beginning to see some puzzle pieces fitting together.
She didn’t like the picture.
“I should go too. I was cleaning the halls when I was called to here.” Nakamura spoke, bringing Suzuki back from her mind.
The receptionist sighed because that’s right too. Life continues, and they can’t sit still for a moment when there’s still so many things to do before the shift end. Yoshida still has daughters to come home too, Nakamura has a dog and a cat to tend to, and Suzuki’s own mother was also waiting for her.
So, the two employees parted ways with Suzuki going back to behind the counter of the reception, organising the files on the computer until a colleague comes to relieve her from her shift.
Yet, as she worked, she couldn’t help but think if the trio of siblings will be alright out there alone. It was a thought that wouldn’t leave her as she worked, distracting her from the things she had to add on the files. Suzuki almost bonked her head on the counter to make it shut up, before looking briefly around and taking out her journal from a drawer only she had the key too.
As she took out the notebook, something else made a thudding sound as it fell on the ground. The receptionist frowned, she remembers only having placed her journal in the drawer. Did she accidentally place a folder in the drawer?
When the dark-haired woman crouched down to pick the thing up, she recognised as not a folder but as a book.
An encyclopaedia about birds.
Suzuki breath hitched, there were only a few people that would know her interest in birds. Her mother, Yoshida and Nakamura of course, but her mother would give her any kind of present when it is just the two of them at home. Nakamura and Yoshida don’t even have the key to the drawer.
It wasn’t…?
She opened the cover to find a note inside.
Dear Suzuki-san,
Thank you for everything you have done for us; from letting keep the room while our brother heals from his fever to being more open to us as time went on. As to show our gratitude, we want to give you this book.
We hope you enjoy this small present,
From the travellers that follow the winds wherever it takes them,
Venti and Nahida (and Ranpo!)
Suzuki’s lips twitched into a faint smile at the messy scrawl that contrast with the neat writing of the names ‘Venti’ and ‘Nahida’. It seemed like Ranpo had added his name without his siblings knowing. Her eyes shined with unshed tears as she traced the names with fingers that slightly trembled. She wasn’t used to gifts or goodbyes that felt so personal from anyone other than her mother.
It was a quiet reminder of how much she had changed since first meeting the siblings. How she learned to look beyond first impressions, to open her heart and trust others to do the same.
And more than that, it was a message: the siblings were okay. Wherever the winds took them next, they would be alright.
Suzuki closed the book gently, a calm settling over her that hadn’t been there before. Maybe she didn’t have to carry the worry for them anymore.
Maybe, in letting them go, she was also learning to trust… in them, in herself, and in the unexpected kindness found when judging less and understanding more.