SHINBASHI - II

That night, Tokyo feel a little warmer than usual.

Sakura and Heri walked side by side, the city lights reflecting softly in small puddles on the pavement. Sakura broke the silence in a gentle voice.

“Did you see Mount Fuji from the sky earlier?”

“Yeah, the captain and I spotted it,” Heri replied with a small smile.

“It was beautiful. I’ll show you a photo later.”

Sakura turned toward him, her eyes lighting up.

“I want to see your sky photos. I want to know… what kind of things you get to see from up there.”

Heri nodded slowly, still smiling.

“Sure. I’ll show you later.”

A few minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant Sakura had picked—Uokin, a well-known seafood place in Shinbashi. A wooden sign and small lanterns hung by the entrance, giving off a simple yet elegant charm.

“Sorry if it’s not into your liking,” Sakura said shyly. “I wasn’t sure where to go, but this place is famous for its seafood. I hope that’s okay?”

“Not at all. I love seafood,” Heri answered without hesitation.

They stepped inside. The warm interior blended modern and classic styles. The murmur of conversation and the soft clinking of glasses mixed with the scent of the sea and fragrant Japanese spices.

They were lucky—two seats were open at the corner of the bar. It almost felt like the seats had been waiting just for them.

Sakura placed the order: a sashimi platter, aonori tofu, kinpira, and oolong tea for both.

“You’re not drinking?” Heri asked curiously.

“I thought Japanese people usually drink in places like this.”

Sakura laughed quietly.

“I don’t drink. Alcohol and I don’t get along… That night you found me? I actually didn’t want to drink at all. But… I’d already joined the nomikai before I realized.”

“You were forced to go?” Heri tilted his head.

“Not really…” Sakura replied softly.

“That day’s work was really stressful, and my coworkers invited me to the izakaya to unwind. So I went… and yeah, things got out of hand.”

Their conversation flowed easily.

Then Sakura asked,

“Heri-san, how come you speak Japanese? What made you want to learn?”

Heri responded in a mix of English and Japanese.

“I used to live in Tokyo… back when I was a student. Exchange program. I stayed in Meguro for a year.”

He continued,

“The classes were in English, but I wanted to experience the real Japan, so I started learning Japanese on my own.”

He paused, reflecting on those early days in Japan.

Everything had felt foreign—the language, the city, even the food. It took him nearly two months before he felt at ease.

“I lived in a dorm with a few friends. But I also joined a ‘Meet Japanese Family’ program hosted by Meguro Ward… and that’s how I ended up with a host family. They still live here. I try to visit whenever I’m in Tokyo.”

Sakura listened closely. Her eyes didn’t leave his face, as if each word uncovered a new piece of the person in front of her.

“Oh—here they are.”

Heri pulled up a few photos on his phone of him with his host family.

Sakura smiled wide.

“Thanks for sharing that with me…”

They were so deep in conversation, they hadn’t noticed the food had arrived.

“Oh no! The sashimi! We forgot all about it!” Sakura giggled.

“Let’s dig in! This one’s really good!”

“Wow… the fish is so fresh,” Heri said as he picked up his first piece.

The conversation kept flowing. Even when Heri had to use a translation app now and then, Sakura didn’t mind. In fact, she chuckled at his attempts to pronounce trickier Japanese words.

To match his effort, she also try to speak in simple English.

“I can speak English… though not as good as you,” she said, almost bashfully.

Heri smiled, then pulled up a photo from his phone.

“Here’s Fuji-san… this afternoon. From the cockpit.”

The picture showed Mount Fuji rising grandly beneath the blue sky.

“My captain even announced it to passengers on the left side—told them to grab their cameras. One of the cabin crew said some passengers stood up and peeked through the door window just to get a better view.”

Sakura stared at the image in awe.

“It’s beautiful…”

She tried to imagine what the world must look like from where Heri worked—up in the sky.

“I think I’ve been talking non-stop…” Heri chuckled.

“Sorry, I’m rambling.”

Sakura laughed softly and shook her head.

“I don’t mind. I love listening to your stories. They feel so different from my world—the office, the clients, spreadsheets… same thing every day.”

She added,

“I was born in Nagasaki, studied in Osaka, then worked in Sapporo—but the cold was too much! So I moved to Tokyo for work.”

Heri laughed.

“Wait, even Japanese people can’t handle the cold?”

“It's true! When I was a kid, I got sick every winter. And in university days, I even turned down a ski trip to Nagano!”

They both laughed.

The conversation flowed like a gentle river—sometimes shallow, sometimes deep, but always warm.

At that little corner bar, two people from different worlds—different languages, cultures, and lives—speak like old friends reunited after a long time.

Tokyo remained alive outside. But inside the quiet space of Uokin, two souls were slowly opening up to each other.

“Heri-san… you’re flying back tomorrow, right?”

Sakura asked softly, her eyes drifting toward her cup of oolong tea.

“Yeah. We only stay one night for Tokyo flights. Since there's a flight every day, the crew rotates quickly.”

Sakura lowered her gaze. There was a silent sadness in her expression—as if she wanted time to pause, just for a while.

“Um, tomorrow…”

They spoke at the same time, then laughed when their words overlapped.

“You first,” Heri offered.

“No, ladies first,” he insisted.

They both smiled, playfully awkward, like a couple of awkward teenager.

Sakura tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked,

“What time do you have to leave for the airport tomorrow?”

“Our crew bus leaves around 7 p.m. The flight’s at 21:30.”

Sakura looked into his eyes.

There was something unspoken in her gaze. A quiet wish for time to stretch just a little longer.

“Sakura-san…” Heri began gently.

“Yes?”

“…Would you like to go for a walk with me tomorrow? I want to visit Odaiba. I don’t really feel like tagging along with the rest of the crew—they usually go shopping in Ginza or Shibuya. I prefer something… more peaceful or... local.”

Sakura giggled, her eyes narrowing sweetly.

“I’d love to. I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. I’m glad you asked me.”

A brief silence fell between them. Heri looked bashful again.

“Oh, and… I just realized. I’ve only been calling you by your SNS name—Sakura. I should’ve been more polite. My host mother used to say I should address new acquaintances with their family name.”

“But… you never told me yours. What’s your full name?”

Sakura smiled.

“Kitagawa. Kitagawa Sakura.”

“So… Kitagawa-san?”

“Just call me Sakura. I don’t mind.”

“Kitagawa-san.”

“Sakura. Geez!”

She gave his arm a playful pinch. They both laughed.

“In Indonesia, what do people call each other, Heri-san?”

“Usually first names. But sometimes… the nicknames are totally random. I swear.”

Sakura laughed out loud, picturing it. The night felt warmer than ever.

Time passed until they finally decided to leave. At the counter, Heri offered to split the bill. But Sakura insisted on treating—as a thank-you for the night he helped her.

“Alright then… tomorrow’s lunch is on me,” Heri said.

“I’ll look forward to it,” she replied with a wide grin.

They walked together toward the station.

“Is your home far, Sakura?”

“Western part of Tokyo. About a 15-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station. Still in Shibuya Ward.”

“Ohh, the Odakyu Line!” Heri lit up.

“Wait, you know it?” Sakura turned to him.

“Of course. There's that place that looks like this, right?” He showed her a picture of Tokyo Camii Mosque.

“Hey! That’s right! How do you know that?”

“I go there sometimes. If I’m in Tokyo on a Friday. Or during solo trips to Japan.”

“It’s a place of worship, right?” Sakura asked.

“Yeah… but I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.”

Sakura smiled.

“Promise? I want to hear your travel stories too.”

“Promise.”

Before parting ways, they confirmed their routes home.

“You know how to get back?” Heri asked.

“Yeah… wait—hold on.” Sakura laughed and checked her phone.

“Ginza Line to Omotesando, then Chiyoda Line. Around 20 minutes.”

“And you’re just walking, huh?”

“Yup. Hotel’s nearby.”

Heri chuckled.

“Well then… rest well, Kita—uh… Sakura-san.”

Sakura laughed.

“See? I knew it—you were going to say 'Kitagawa-san'.”

“No way. Not unless I want to get pinched again.”

He smiled.

“Good night, Heri-san. Thank you. I had a wonderful evening.”

“You too. Get home safe.”

They waved goodbye in front of the Tokyo Metro gate.

“Let me know when you reach your hotel, okay?

 I’ll message you when I get home too.”

“Okay!”

Sakura walked away, glancing back now and then.

Heri is still standing there, watching her—making sure she is safe, until she disappeared from view.

A quiet warmth bloomed in Sakura’s chest.

A feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Please don’t fade. Please don’t disappear”… she whispered in her heart.

Meanwhile, Heri walked back to his hotel.

He looked up at Tokyo’s night sky—clear and full of light.

Skyscrapers, traffic, a city that never really slept.

“It was a good night,” he murmured.

And with a soft smile, he whispered quietly to himself,

“Tokyo is a place where magic, hope, and dream mix in together… isn’t it?”

***