Smile Precure Sequel Novel

Chapter Two: Hino Akane - Part 1

Do ya remember...the taste o' first love?

The first love in yer life, first love...haah, the way it squeezes yer chest, the sound o' that sure feels nice. The bittersweet aroma o' lemon's said to be cliché, but I guess that's said by most folks. 'Sides that, it can smell like mint, smell like shampoo, smell like milk tea, that's the way it kinda feels for different people. There's all sorts o' lives; all sorts o' love too. The taste o' first love's said to have 'bout infinite varieties.

Eh? First love ain't got a taste, y'say? Have ya forgotten 'bout way back when so soon? Ya sayin' ya don't fall in love anymore? Stupid! Only somebody with no sense o' romance would say that. I'm 'ere to have a serious talk 'bout love, but ya rude folks had to put a damper on that, huh.

Ah? What's with those eyes? How'd my first love go? I see. Y'wanna...hear my story? I see, I see. If yer gonna go that far, then I'll hafta tell ya. 'Ere're the FACTS...o' hot- blooded Hino Akane's first love life.

Ahn? What's that? Ya ain't got no particular interest in hearin' me fawn over it? Hahaha, well that's too bad. In this book's second chapter, I, Hino Akane, am the main protagonist. However sick o' it ya get or whether ya give me the stink eye, I get to talk 'bout whatever I want so ya better brace yerself. I ain't got much o' a literate talent or anythin', so pay no mind to my rough accent.

Just hearin' it brings me to tears, even talkin' 'bout it brings me to tears. Goin' ten years back, it was 'round my time as a 2nd year in middle school –– the taste o' my very first love, it tasted like okonomiyaki...

"Akane-chan, can I have a mixed tempura?"

"Akane-chaan, a refill on oolong highball over here."

"Akane-chaaan~! Akane-chan, hey!"

"So ANNOYIN'! I'm tellin' a serious story 'ere! Can't ya hush n' listen!?"

...Ahn? Ahahahaha...sorry, my bad. I totally forgot I'm workin' right now. "I'll get 'em ready right away, fellas, so give me a quick minute. A mixed tempura for him, n' an oolong highball for him, yeah? What 'bout ya over there? Eh? Y'just usin' ya free time to chat? ...hey, make up yer mind n' order somethin'!"

~~~~

"Thanks for stoppin' by~ Come back again, guys!" Ahh, I'm beat. A day's work sure does a real hard number on yer shoulders, stiff n' all.

The business at the okonomiyaki joint Akane has been thrivin' lately as usual – every day it's been bustlin' with activity. With Dad in the hospital for his back pain, n' Mom swamped bein' president o' the neighbourhood association, I'm left handlin' n' servin' food at the shop as manager in their place. My lil' bro Genki's off at a trainin' camp with his university's Soccer Club, so he's been away from home for ages now. With all that said, I ain't had a choice but to show off my talents. Well, the only ones comin' to the shop are the usual regulars tho'. It'd be nice to widen the customer base, but I'm guessin' I wouldn't know how to deal with that kind o' businessy stuff for runnin' things 'round 'ere.

Uhh, how far did I end up talkin'? What haven't I mentioned yet? Oh yeah, I was talkin' 'bout my first love. Goin' ten years back from now, it was 'round my time as a 2nd year in middle school.

Nanairogaoka...betcha it sounds awesome. From Ōsaka, I got transferred n' came to this town's middle school 11 years ago. My father Daigo, my mother Masako, me, n' my lil' brother Genki. With a family o' four n' their Kansai-styled okonomiyaki shop Akane together, we moved into Nanairogaoka.

By the way, wanna know why the okonomiyaki shop's named after me? Based on what Dad n' Mom told me, it's 'cus they opened the shop 'round the year I was born. Sheesh, say whatever ya want 'bout their cute lil' daughter, but to call the shop after their daughter's own name...? My parents must've been pretty dumb.