Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Last Night
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Fukuoka Tower sparkled in blue, then shifted to red, then green, repeating the cycle endlessly.
In front of it, Na-yeon waving at me left a deep impression.
It felt just like... the ending scene from a Japanese anime.
'Then it must be a happy ending.'
Seeing her so bright and cheerful like this, the conclusion had to be a happy one.
In truth, forget happy endings—I was a bit late for our meetup and had rushed over.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting...?"
Evening traffic had been brutal.
But kind Na-yeon shook her head at my explanation, saying she actually enjoyed leisurely sightseeing while waiting.
"Look, the colors keep changing, right? And there's this pretty harbor-like building next to it."
She pointed at Fukuoka Tower as she spoke.
Good thing it was a tourist spot.
There was plenty to see even while waiting.
I let out a sigh of relief and looked up at the tower where Na-yeon was pointing.
'It's tall, but kinda small.'
It towered over the surrounding buildings, but compared to the towers I knew, it seemed pretty modest.
Next to something like Namsan Tower or the Eye of Sauron, Fukuoka Tower looked insignificant.
Still, a tower was a tower.
There was no better spot for a panoramic view of the area.
"Yeah, and earlier there was no line, but now people are queuing up. Let's go before it gets longer!"
I really had been late.
Should've skipped the shrine and come straight here.
At Na-yeon's words, we hurried over and got in line before it worsened.
Right away, a long queue formed behind us.
Perfect timing.
'Glad I didn't keep her waiting any longer.'
I let out a short breath and watched the few people buying tickets when Na-yeon spoke up first from beside me.
"What'd you do for fun today?"
She was already shorter than me, and with her flat sneakers on, she had to look up slightly.
My sneakers had a bit of a heel, making the height difference even more pronounced.
I glanced down at her and gave a rough rundown of my day.
About wandering the department store.
How a slice of shortcake there cost 7,000 won.
And drawing an omikuji at the shrine.
"Sounds like you had a full day. A shrine, though?"
"There was one right next to the department store. Super small... it was intriguing."
"Can we swing by tomorrow too?"
Of course, no reason not to.
It wouldn't take long, and we could stop on the way to the airport.
"Absolutely."
She grinned at my reply and stepped forward.
I scurried after her.
We bought tickets and boarded the elevator.
A low hum filled the air as we ascended in silence for a moment.
Finally, a ding, and the doors slid open.
And right there in front of us.
"Whoa, you can see so far...!"
The Fukuoka skyline sprawled out like stars twinkling in the night sky.
'...No tall buildings in the city, so the view's incredible.'
One thing I'd noticed wandering Fukuoka.
Not a ton of super high-rises like in Korea.
That openness let the view stretch all the way to the distant mountains filling the horizon.
"Yeon-bi, isn't that our hotel over there?"
"Yeah... looks like it."
If we could spot our place from this distance, that said it all.
'Feels different from that view at the Korean hotel.'
The scenery there had been nice too.
But unlike Fukuoka, you couldn't take in the whole city.
Not like this.
The low skyline created a unique vista.
'Always heard it's big, but damn, it really is.'
If Fukuoka was like this, what about Tokyo?
I wondered how its panorama would differ.
'Not sure when, but it'd be nice to come back sometime.'
I soaked in the city lights filling the view and the tower interior.
"Yeon-bi! Take one of me too!"
I captured Na-yeon with my phone.
"My turn now... Alright, pose~"
She got me too.
'Come to think of it, we don't have any pics together.'
We'd been taking turns, so nothing with both of us.
I looked around and spotted a tourist nearby, asking for a quick shot.
"Sure."
They agreed readily, and we posed with Fukuoka as backdrop.
First time posing together, I felt a bit awkward, but she rested her hand on my shoulder and struck a casual pose.
'...Phew, good.'
Felt like my efforts to make her comfortable had paid off.
After the quick snap, I checked the photo and couldn't help but gasp.
"Wow...!"
"It came out amazing."
Best pic of the trip so far.
Maybe because we were in it together.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Nakasu Yatai Street was pretty far from Fukuoka Tower.
Far enough to need a car.
Bus was peak hour crowded, subway a bit awkward distance.
Had to call a taxi again.
The only downside of Japanese taxis was the price, but that hardly mattered to me.
Na-yeon mentioned taxis being pricey, so I pointed out the packed bus ahead.
And she went.
'...Should we take a taxi?'
Agreeing right away.
We hadn't been taxi-hopping nonstop anyway.
This comfy ride wasn't bad.
'Though I've pretty much been in them the whole time.'
Anyway.
Settled in the taxi, I listened to Na-yeon's day this time.
"I slept in super late today... rushed to wash up and headed to the park."
"A park?"
"Yeah, Ohori Park or something. Honestly... just your average park. But kinda pretty and exotic."
I pulled up the map—there was one right nearby.
"Looks unique."
A long, thin island in the center, wrapped by a lake.
Bridge to the island too.
"Tons of cafes around, but all packed... couldn't get in anywhere."
"That crowded?"
"You saw the line at the tower? Like double or triple that."
Definitely peak season in Fukuoka.
Even when I left the department store, it was swarming.
Suddenly hit me—the yatai street we're heading to would be jammed too.
"Bet the yatai street's packed solid."
"...Yeah, probably."
Tourist spot after all.
The tonkatsu place we wanted had a huge wait, so it made sense.
"Tourist areas are always like that."
"True."
I leaned back imagining the bustling street.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ There's a saying: half water, half fish.
"This many people...?"
First thought upon seeing Nakasu Yatai Street.
"Whoa... smells so good...!"
I'd figured it'd be crowded, but not this much.
The riverside row of stalls.
From where I stood, river on the right, stalls packed on the left.
Why include it on the trip? The romance of eating at a Japanese yatai.
You see it all the time in novels or movies—folks unwinding after a long day.
Came for that vibe, but tourist trap reality hit different.
"Hmm... guess we find a spot first?"
"Standing here's gonna have us waiting till the owners close up."
Na-yeon nodded in agreement.
Braced ourselves and plunged into the crowd.
Ten minutes of getting swept along.
I scanned for spots even as the throng pushed me forward.
Looking for a place with booze and snacks for dinner.
Skewers or fried stuff.
But everyone had the same idea—no empty seats anywhere.
Finally spotted one: a few customers at a stall rising en masse.
"Unnie, spot opened up next to us."
"Yeon-bi, I can't see."
Grabbed her hand—her short stature blocking the view—and dashed to claim it.
"Irasshaimase~!"
Slid into seats amid the owner's greeting.
Some foreigners next to us sweating bullets as they sat too.
'Any later and we'd have lost it.'
I don't even fight for subway seats.
Those are always won by the aunties hurling bags ahead.
Anyway, victory today.
Na-yeon already beaming at the grilling skewers upfront.
"You bought yesterday, so I'll get this time."
"Uh... sure."
She clearly wanted to, but after pricey tonkatsu and sushi yesterday, she wouldn't let me refuse.
'With drinks, it'll rack up.'
Filling up on skewers and booze here? Big bill incoming.
Better I cover it.
"Unnie, what'll you have? Drinks are listed too."
I pulled the menu stuck upfront and spread it before her.
Skewers galore, booze, fried bites, sides.
Korean menu for folks like us too.
'Even in Japan, Korean everywhere.'
Super foreigner-friendly with Korean menus, but prices? Not so much.
She eyed me cautiously, pondering the menu.
In moments like this.
"Um... kore ichi kudasai."
Just order the expensive stuff first.
Yakitori set— one of every skewer here.
Only then did Na-yeon pick her drink.
"Then... this for me. What booze you having?"
Booze.
Real thrill thinking about drinking after so long—shoulders twitching.
Hated company dinners, but booze itself? Not that bad.
Not obsessed, but here?
Overseas with killer food—how could I stay chill?
"Draft beer for me."
My old limit.
Peak: 3 soju + 1 beer?
'Forced drinking, so debatable if it was really my limit.'
Family-like company meant downing what they poured.
Refuse and endure lectures all night: "Kids these days won't drink from elders but guzzle all day among themselves, no respect, no manners, what're they even learning~"
Forced my tolerance up.
Liver healthier now, so probably around there?
Heart pounding, we finished ordering.
First up: my yakitori set.
We each grabbed skewers and popped them in.
Chicken melting away.
Well, tender as hell.
Standard yakitori taste, but starving and great vibe amped it up.
"Mmm~!"
Na-yeon felt it too.
Devoured one in seconds, nabbed a veggie skewer next.
Blasted through them, then my massive draft beer arrived.
'Was 500cc always this big?'
Been ages—looked huge.
Gonna fill up on beer instead of skewers.
"Yeon-bi, cheers~"
"Cheers~"
Whatever—who could resist frothy, perfect draft?
First time clinking glasses as a woman.
Gulped the crisp beer down.
Tickling my throat, alcoholic finish lingering.
Kinda got why grad students crave booze so bad.
'Been too long—feels amazing.'
Not buzzed from one sip, but mood soared.
Downed a gulp, finished skewers—next up, Na-yeon's oden platter.
Perfect timing, something soupy.
As I reached for oden.
"Uh... ano...!"
Voice from right behind.
Turned—two unfamiliar guys.
No recognition, so I tilted my head.
'Who're they?'
"Uh... isshoni sakenomuka?"
"Pardon?"
Startled, Korean slipped out.
They relaxed: "Oh, you're Korean? You two here on vacation?"
Brain ticked—what's this?
Not hard to figure.
'Hunting, huh?'
Seen posts online.
Guys hitting on people in Japan like this.
Didn't think it'd happen for real.
'Didn't Na-yeon mention this before?'
Memory flashed—her story from back then.
Dismissed as funny then, but experiencing it? Weird vibe.
Not bad mood, just... off.
'No matter how I slice it, getting hit on by dudes ain't fun.'
Fundamental issue.
I'd been a guy.
Confession from a girl?
That'd feel weird too.
'No wonder the omikuji said no romance ahead.'
Spot on.
Anyway, two guys pitching to join, eyeing us.
Na-yeon giving awkward "what now?" smile my way.
How to ditch cleanly? Then foreigners next to us bailed en masse.
No hesitation—they swooped in.
'Timing sucks.'
And zero tact.
'We look repulsed—why push?'
Could refuse and leave, but abandon hard-won seats? No way.
Pondering options, menu caught my eye.
Foolproof play.
"Sacho? Masuta?"
"Hai~"
"Kore, kore, kore... and... kore mo kudasai."
"...Hai!"
"Yeon-bi, why order so much expensive stuff?"
Na-yeon startled at my order.
A tad pricier than her oden set.
She thought I ordered to chat with them, hence shock.
As if I'd buy food for randos.
'Preemptive strike.'
Offal, grilled eel, short rib, bottle of sake.
Enough for us two, but pricey as hell.
"Hey, what're you getting?"
"Hang on. What's good here? You ordered a ton."
They chatted too obviously—I smirked, pointing my picks.
"Offal, eel skewers, short rib. Oh, and fanciest daiginjo sake since we're drinking. Skewers are great—try 'em."
"Ah... yeah... "
He bowed slightly, back to menu.
Eyeballing prices of what I just got.
Na-yeon finally clued in, whispering in my ear.
"Yeon-bi, let's split it later."
This amount? Pocket change.
Her worry was adorable.
I chuckled and shook my head.
Glanced at the guys, spoke loud enough for all.
"It's fine. Not that much anyway."
"Food's up! Customers!"
Owner awkwardly Korean-ed, plating mouthwatering dishes.
Plus pricey sake plunked down.
"Wow...!"
"Thanks."
"Dozo!"
Owner hyped.
Not just the guys—even opposite Japanese glanced over.
Na-yeon flushing—booze or embarrassment?
Me? Used to it.
"Nothing for you guys?"
I smiled their way—they exchanged awkward grins.
"Uh... friends at the hotel waiting to eat together."
Bailed without ordering.
"Typical."
Snickered at their retreat—Na-yeon murmured.
"...You got some edge, huh?"
"Hear that all the time."
She burst out laughing.
I joined softly, raising my beer.
"Cheers~"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And on the morning of our flight home.
"...Urk."
Spent the whole morning hugging the toilet thanks to the booze.