Santri Famiglia's

What a Beautiful Moon

"You want to eat sandwiches, rice, onigiri, or noodles first?" Sanubari put a bag full of food on the table. He took out two instant udons, took them out, prepared to brew.

"A lot to buy?"

"Let's be full," chuckled Sanubari.

He unwrapped them one by one, dumping the plastic right in the trash can next to him. A second of udon had opened, suddenly Sanubari was riveted. He did not know how to pour hot water from the thing in front of him. Sanubari standing clumsy.

"Ah, maybe we should eat na—"

Just as Sanubari was thinking of canceling his intention and was about to lay the udon, the cashier man approached him. The man interrupts, offering help, "Otetsudai shimashou kA?"

Sanubari. The cashier man had been standing next to him, smiling kindly. Sanubari smiled back. He feels lucky. Help comes right when needed. Without further ado, he gave his udon to the cashier man.

"Hi, choudou ii Na." Sanubari is grateful for this good coincidence.

The cashier man received the udon Sanubari, placed it down where the water came out, and then pressed a button. Hot water fills the first cup. Sanubari observes how to do it.

"Hi, douzo!" said the cashier man handed back the udon that had been brewed.

"Arygato!" Sanubari thanked him for taking the first udon.

"Iie iie." The cashier man took the second cup.

Sanubari gave Abrizar his first udon. He also held the chopsticks at the man while saying, "Wait three to five minutes until the noodles are ripe!"

Abrizar did not reply. He simply said, "Why did he offer me that he finally told me to eat noodles first? Elementary?"

He concentrated on hearing the cashier man who was only one Sanubari away from him. Hearing this close, he was increasingly convinced that the cashier man was the same person as the guide man and the steward.

Just as one can remember a person by looking at a face, Abrizar has his own way of remembering others. Yes, with voice. He who knows darkness from birth has become accustomed to this way of working memory.

"Kyousuku de gozaimasu." The cashier man replied very politely, it was already an obligation for him as a store employee to serve customers.

Right after the last udon was handed over to Sanubari, the department store became more crowded. Some young people entered the store. They chatter.

One of them turned to the direction where Sanubari, Abrizar, and the cashier man were. The Japanese man who had just arrived with his group called out, "Mitsuki!"

The cashier looks. He said goodbye to Sanubari before running over to the crowd and replied, "Hi, kimasu!"

"Mizuki." Abrizar repeated the name in his heart.

"What a good name. As good as it is." Sanubari dropped his ass on the chair while holding the noodles.

"Name?"

"Um, the name of the employee. Mitsuki's. Uncle Kelana said, the name means beautiful moon. It could also be the third month of March. Depending on what kanji the name is written on," Sanubari explained as he twirled the chopsticks.

"Hm ...," Abrizar just muttered while monologuing in his heart, "so, Mitsuki is indeed the name of the man ...."

"She is very kind, communicative, and smiles a lot. He invited me to chat. He also helped me find food without pigs. You can't read Japanese." Sanubari laughed considering the previous events.

He was confused as to what to take. Finally, he decided to ask the only employee who was refilling the stock. The employee was the cashier man—Mitsuki.

While choosing food, Mitsuki accompanies him. He explained many things painstakingly and patiently. It was Mitsuki who suggested trying calpis.

"The Japanese are a lot of good ones, huh? It feels good to stay here longer." Sanubari's good impact on the local population is growing.

As long as it was unrelated to any mafia organization, it seemed like Sanubari did not mind settling down. According to him, this place is quite comfortable to live in. At least, that's what Sanubari thought after a series of events since he first landed in the country. By excluding yesterday's events.

*****