Nobu lodges Sora into his apartment. She has now an own room
with big windows, which were not in the parents' house.
In a week, Sora is accepted to the training of the faculty of ancient
civilizations researches. To celebrate this event, Nobu invites her to have
dinner in a restaurant. Sora was once at restaurant when she was a child.
It was the only time she and her mother were included.
"Perhaps, it is your size," Nobu gives a box to the girl.
Sora opens the gift and sees there a dress of turquoise color. The
girl goes at once to her room and wears it. When she comes back to
Nobu's room, she sees that he is dressed in a business suit.
"You are very beautiful," the young man slowly says these words,
looking at the girl.
"Thank you for the dress," she admires herself in a mirror, as if
she is a child.
The young people, glancing at each other, reach restaurant by
foot, having passed one street. In front of the entrance the lights shine,
there is a rack where they are welcomed by the benevolent mistress is
dressed in a black-and-white kimono, pulled together with a wide belt on
the waist and decorated bright flowers. In restaurant, the view is even
more beautiful. The color scheme makes dark brown and red colors. A
bamboo grid covers the ceiling. Round lanterns go down from it. Low
tables are located around the hall. There are tatami on the brown floor
near the tables. Nobu and Sora take off their shoes near the entrance and
move ahead to their little table. Having sat down on the heels and having
straightened the back, young couple observes, how their table is been
served. Rice - on the left; sashimi, soup are on the right; and meat dishes
have been put on the table's center, sushi and rolls are on a wooden
tablemat, cups with sauce and wasabi nearby stand; round last dishes
there are pickles. Sake is put on the table into a jug. When the table is
completely ready, the picture of alternation of roundish dark ware and
the rectangular white ones appears.
"I accept with gratitude," Sora and Nobu say simultaneously,
smiling.
A woman in a kimono brings damp towels curled into a tubule.
The young people take the towels and wipe the hands. Sora, using sticks,
puts on an empty plate gradually all dishes and tastes. Nobu looks at her.
"What?" Sora asks.
"You become more beautiful every day," he admits it in a
lingering voice.
After the last word, the couple pour each other sake and at once
drink it. Nobu holds his soup bowl, eating the solids with his chopsticks
then drinking the broth. Sora takes the bowl with rice and eats it by the
sticks.
"Sushi and rolls," Sora puts sushi and rolls on an empty plate, dips
the sushi in sauce. She tries several different kinds of sushi and follows
each with a slice of marinated ginger.
Sake has added a droplet of boldness in Sora's mind, and she tells
Nobu her secret. The young man attentively listens, and during the most
awful moment takes the girl by her hands and gives her a kiss.
"Now you know all: from what I ran, that I have said on the train. I
have no secret from you. You are the kindest person I have met,
certainly, after Mum," and she starts to cry.
Nobu rises, approaches her and embraces her. He sighs deeply
and says, "Will you be always with me? Will you be my wife?" He takes a
ring with a small, beautiful blue jewel from his pocket.
"Yes, I will," and her tears are replaced by the smile. She kisses
Nobu.