HPDBC Chapter 16 The Fugitives of February
Chapter 16 The Fugitives of February
1989 2 Month 13 Day.
Valentine's Day Eve.
Although the social atmosphere is still lingering with the effects of "self-restraint," the restlessness of young people in the air can no longer be suppressed.
A long line had formed in front of the department store in Ginza; girls were waiting to buy chocolate gift boxes.
But for Akina Nakamori, this night felt like an inescapable hunt.
All the gossip magazines were watching her closely, and cameras were crammed in front of her office. Some people even squatted in the flowerbed downstairs from her house for three days and three nights just to take pictures of her and that man.
"Akina-chan, Mr. Kanai said he has a business dinner with the racing team tonight and won't be coming back."
"Akina-chan, tomorrow's schedule..."
Outside the car window, there was a barrage of camera flashes; inside, the agent was giving endless schedule reports.
"parking."
"But……"
"I said stop the car!"
Akina suddenly exploded.
At a traffic light intersection, as the van slowed down, she pulled open the door, jumped out, and got into a taxi waiting at the red light.
She got rid of her manager and also the shackles of being the "national diva".
……
Nine o'clock in the evening.
Nakano area.
Kitahara Shin is cooking oden in his apartment.
The daikon radish was cooked until it was soft and translucent, having absorbed the essence of the bonito broth.
The room was warm and cozy, filled with comforting aromas of food.
He was holding the script for a Taiga drama, pondering his movements for tomorrow, when suddenly, the black pager on the corner of the table went off.
When I picked it up, I saw it was an unfamiliar public phone number.
Kitahara Shin thought for a moment, then called back.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.
All I could hear on the other end of the line was heavy breathing and the faint sound of traffic in the distance.
"Feed?" Kitahara Shin asked tentatively.
"...I'm downstairs at your place."
Akina's voice was low, hoarse with exhaustion, "I didn't know where to go, so after thinking about it, I asked your manager and came to find you."
Kitahara Shin paused for a moment.
He walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked down.
In the dimly lit alley downstairs, there was an inconspicuous black sedan parked.
The car lights were off, like a wounded little beast hiding in its cave.
"Turn off the car engine and turn off the lights."
Kitahara Shin calmly spoke into the microphone, "Wait two minutes."
Two minutes later.
Kitahara Shin was wearing a gray loungewear outfit with a down vest over it.
He was carrying a stainless steel thermos in his hand and had a thick wool blanket tucked under his arm.
Instead of going to the driver's seat, he opened the passenger door and got in.
It was cold inside the car.
Akina didn't dare turn on the air conditioner, afraid of attracting attention.
She was wearing sunglasses and a mask, huddled in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly with her knuckles white.
Kitahara Shin closed the car door.
The narrow carriage was suddenly filled with the warmth of oden.
He didn't say anything, but simply unfolded the wool blanket and gently covered her with it.
Then he unscrewed the lid of the thermos, poured a steaming cup of barley tea, and placed it into her icy hands.
"Have some drinks to warm your hands."
Akina held the still steaming cup as if she were holding a branding iron.
She lowered her head, took off her mask, and greedily inhaled the aroma of the barley tea.
That simple yet down-to-earth scent instantly dispelled the lingering smell of expensive perfume and tobacco in her nostrils.
"I'll only be here for a little while," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading, "If it's inconvenient..."
"No one collects parking fees here."
Kitahara Shin interrupted her, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather, "You can stay as long as you want."
After saying that, he adjusted the back of his chair, found a comfortable position to recline, and, by the dim light of the street lamp, reopened the script in his hand.
He didn't stare at her, nor did he ask why she had come here.
He would quietly read his book, occasionally taking a sip of tea from the thermos.
It was as if the person sitting next to him wasn't Japan's most popular female celebrity, but an old friend sharing a ride home.
The carriage was very quiet.
The only sounds were the rustling of paper turning and the occasional gust of wind passing by outside the window.
This kind of quiet was a luxury for Akina Nakamori, who was used to noise, screams, and questioning.
She slowly loosened her grip on the steering wheel.
My body gradually warmed up under the wool blanket, and my nerves, which had been tense all day, slowly relaxed in this small, safe space.
Although she herself didn't know why she came to find Kitahara Shin.
This is just a gut feeling.
After all, he had saved his life once before.
So if it's him... he probably won't hurt me...
This wasn't about trust; it was more like a natural choice made by Akina Nakamori when she had no other options.
Ten minutes later, Kitahara Shin heard even breathing sounds beside him.
He turned his head slightly to the side.
Akina was already asleep with her head tilted to the side.
His sunglasses had slipped halfway down, revealing eyes that, even when closed, couldn't hide their weariness.
Kitahara Shin didn't move, he even turned the pages of the book more gently.
He acted as the goalkeeper for forty minutes.
Akina was jolted awake only when she heard the sirens of patrol cars in the distance.
She sat up abruptly, the blanket slipping off her body.
"What time is it?"
"10:30." Kitahara Shin glanced at his watch. "You slept for forty minutes."
Akina rubbed her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. She had actually fallen asleep in the car with a man without any warning.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"No need to apologize." Kitahara Shin closed the thermos. "Is it fully charged?"
Akina paused for a moment, then nodded.
That brief but completely undisturbed sleep made her feel as if she had been reborn.
"Thanks."
She put her sunglasses and mask back on, placed her hand on the ignition switch, and said, "I should go."
"Be careful on the road, the roads are slippery in the snow, don't drive too fast."
Kitahara Shin didn't try to stop him, and got out of the car.
He stood in the cold wind, watching the car start, its taillights illuminating two red halos.
The car slowly drove out of the alley, merged into the traffic on the main road, and eventually disappeared from sight.
Kitahara Shin stood there for a while, until his hands were a little stiff from the cold, before putting them in his pockets and turning to walk towards the apartment building.
Upstairs, that pot of oden is probably cold by now.