Chapter 055
"Which one should I get... I can't decide"
Right now we're at a bento counter in a major station where the high-speed train stops. We decided to buy the famous station bento here for lunch.
One is a bento in a Daruma-shaped container. It's named after the Bodhidharma Daishi temple nearby. The other is a bento in a small kettle. It's a famous item that's been around for a long time.
"Let's pay respects to the history here and get kamameshi."
"Excuse me, can I have two Daruma bentos and two kamameshi please?"
Mom pays and I get the bag with the bento in it. Mom and I chose kamameshi, while Mai and Dad chose the Daruma bento.
"Onii-chan, can I have some of your kamameshi?"
"That's good. I'll have some of that too."
"Dad, please."
"Thanks. Mom, here you go."
In the end, the siblings and the couple shared both bentos and were able to enjoy both. Both were delicious and I wanted to buy them again on the way home.
Back on the national highway, we continued heading north. We passed through the Kanto Plain and the mountains came into view. The same huge white Kannon statue from my previous life looked down from the top of the mountain.
"It looks like you can go inside that Kannon-sama and climb it."
"Shall we stop by on the way back?"
I looked at the beautiful river flowing along the national highway while listening to the conversation between my mom and dad in high spirits. Eventually the national highway narrowed and we drove towards the mountains.
"Yu, Mai, are you feeling sick?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine for now too."
As we entered the mountain road with many curves, my dad was concerned about our health. It was his first time driving this long, and it was on this mountain road. I guess he was worried about us getting car sick.
"Is this an amusement park?"
"It feels so retro. I want to go!"
On the way, I was surprised by a small amusement park attached to a drive-in, and I was surprised at how high the bridge was when I crossed it.
"Um, it should be around here... There is it!"
After a long drive, we arrived at a hotel town built around the station. We parked the car in the town hall parking lot a little way from the station and went inside.
"Excuse me, this is Takimoto, who will be seeing patients from tomorrow..."
"We've been waiting for you, Dr. Takimoto. Welcome to Suichu!"
When Dad told the staff at the counter, they greeted him with a smile.
"We'll take you to the inn where you'll be staying right away. This way, this way."
We were shown to a hot spring inn located very close to the town hall. We turned the car around and put our luggage down. Dad can examine patients with his skill, he doesn't need much medical equipment, so he doesn't have much luggage.
After Mom finished the reception, the waitress guided her to the room where she would be staying. The room she was shown to was a stylish Japanese-style room with an open-air hot spring.
"Please take a rest today and start your medical examination tomorrow. It will be held at the town hall, so we will pick you up at 9am tomorrow."
The town hall staff left, and the waitress explained the room and left.
"Dad, thank you for your hard work. You must be tired from driving unfamiliar roads."
"Yeah, I suppose so. But I'm the only one with a license, so it can't be helped."
As Dad sipped the tea Mom had made, I asked him about something that had been bothering me.
"Hey, the station is close by, but couldn't you have taken the train?"
If he had taken the high-speed train to the station where he bought the bento and then changed to a local line, he would have been able to get there quicker and wouldn't have had to wear himself out as much.
"... Ah, yeah, that was an option."
It seemed that the train option hadn't even crossed Dad's mind. For me, it's good because I enjoy the drive.
No comments:
Post a Comment