12 Chapter 12 (Content has been modified)
The successful sheltering on the night of the fireworks display broke the ice in the relationship between Bailibian and Dazai Osamu, and it could even be said that it went a step further - Dazai Osamu could now get more than just dinner from Bailibian.
The approach of the New Year always brings a joyful atmosphere, and this is true even in Yokohama. The shops on the streets are decorated with festive colors, and there are more pedestrians walking at night than usual. Although it is highly unlikely that friends and family will visit, Bailibian still went out to buy some New Year's goods. Due to his limited personal driving skills, Bailibian currently has only one means of transportation: bicycle. Although the variety of items he bought is wide, fortunately the quantity is not large. Otherwise, Bailibian cannot guarantee that his enthusiasm for the New Year will not be extinguished. After all, going out in such cold weather does require some courage.
However, since he was going to buy New Year's goods, he couldn't just buy everything in one store. Bailibian rode his bicycle through the streets and alleys, naturally blending into the lively atmosphere. But nothing is perfect in this world, just like Bailibian, who was groping around on his bicycle, was destined to spend a longer time on the road.
After buying the last batch of New Year's goods, Bailibian realized that it was almost noon. It was too late to go home and cook. So he decided to just eat outside. With this in mind, Bailibian started looking for the nearest restaurant.
But the closer it got to the holidays, the more scarce restaurant space became. After repeated setbacks, Bailibian set his sights on a small establishment. It was a curry shop, small and not lavishly decorated, its only distinguishing feature being cleanliness and tidiness. Perhaps due to its limited menu, business was mediocre, with only a few customers.
But this just meets Bailibian's needs.
After getting the shop owner's approval, Bailibian parked his bicycle in front of the shop. Feeling the joy of completing a task, Bailibian unhesitatingly agreed to the owner's recommendation for the shop's specialty, the extra spicy curry rice.
Since he was traveling alone, without any companions, Bailibian sat at the bar closest to the owner. When Bailibian actually tasted the so-called extra spicy curry rice, he realized how special the restaurant's specialty really was.
While it might be a bit exaggerated, Bailibian considered this a Yokohama specialty—he'd never tasted curry so spicy anywhere else. With just one bite, tears and snot flowed uncontrollably. However, the owner had been prepared, and a glass of iced milk was immediately placed in front of Bailibian.
Baili Bian, who had given up, changed the menu and ordered a regular curry rice. Although the taste was not as memorable as the one above, it was just enough to comfort Baili Bian's body after it had just been severely injured.
After finishing their meals, the customers in the shop left one by one, until Bailibian was the only one left. The spicy curry rice left a deep impression on Bailibian, so he took advantage of the boss's free time to ask about the inspiration for the dish. When he learned that it was a unique secret recipe, Bailibian instinctively thought that the boss must be from out of town. Having lived in Yokohama for so long, he already had a general understanding of the local tastes, and lightness was always the main theme.
But the boss said he was a native of Yokohama.
"Actually, this shop was handed down from our ancestors. A couple of years ago, Yokohama was too chaotic, so my family moved to the countryside, and that's when we closed the curry shop." To address Bailibian's doubts, the curry shop owner cheerfully explained, "But a while ago, my parents reached the age to leave, and I couldn't stand being alone in the countryside anymore, so I returned to Yokohama. Although Yokohama is still a little too busy, it's still my home."
These words resonated with Bailibian. Although City A seemed too noisy and chaotic compared to Yokohama, if he really had the choice, Bailibian would also like to return to City A. Even if every alley was crowded with amnesiac men, even if every street corner was filled with women in white dresses covering their faces with their hands in tears, even if the airport and hotels were always blocked... he still missed his hometown as always.
Sharing a deep affection for their hometown, Bailibian and the boss hit it off immediately, sharing their deep love for their hometown. From childhood to daily interactions with their parents to the occasional "accidents" they encountered... before they knew it, an entire afternoon had flown by.
It was already evening when Bailibian returned home. The enthusiastic curry shop owner, noticing the passage of time, simply treated Bailibian to another curry dinner. If the owner hadn't mentioned that he had fostered several children adopted by friends who needed extra care, Bailibian would have wanted to chat with the owner for a while longer.
"So slow, Baili, I'm starving."
As soon as he entered the door, Bailibian heard the wailing coming from below. Dazai Osamu, who had wrapped himself in a blanket like a cat strip, rolled to his feet.
This style is really problematic, so much so that Baili Bian blurted out the biggest question: "What's wrong with you?" Are you playing the game of escaping from the quilt?
"Of course it's because of Baili. I've been waiting for him to come back for dinner since noon, but he still hasn't arrived even when my stomach is empty. To deceive myself, I could only wrap myself in the quilt. But because Baili didn't come back to cook, I didn't have the strength to control myself. I struggled for a long time to wrap myself in the quilt, and ended up falling off the sofa!" Dazai Osamu said with a righteous look on his face as he demanded compensation: "Although this is all Baili's fault, I won't make any excessive demands. Just make me a crab dish as compensation."
Wow, this is truly Dazai Osamu's style. However, Bailibian, in a particularly cheerful mood, didn't argue with him and obediently opened the refrigerator, successfully revealing two large crabs that had been frozen for a long time. Although removing crabs is a rather troublesome task, if the crabs are large enough and have a pair of sharp scissors, all problems can be solved easily.
"Baili, have you changed your style? You were not like this before. You didn't even cook for me. That's too much. I brought all the crabs!" Dazai Osamu, who was waiting for dinner, watched Baili bring out the prepared dishes from the kitchen. The carefully selected high-quality ingredients and the skilled chef made this dinner particularly tempting, but there was only one serving.
"Don't overthink it. These are all yours. I've already had dinner."
It was so obvious, Dazai Osamu looked at Bailibian's raised mouth and said with disdain in his heart, "He looks so silly and happy, not smart at all. He was just chatting with someone he just met for a while, but he was so happy for so long."
After the meal, Dazai Osamu proudly handed a handmade greeting card to Hyakubian, "Here." Dazai Osamu, Sakaguchi Ango and Oda Sakunosuke made a batch of New Year's cards while drinking. Although Sakaguchi Ango did not think that the people who received the cards would receive blessings, Dazai Osamu still sent the cards to his hard-working boss Mori Ogai, and Hyakubian was fortunate to become the second person to receive the card.
Baili looked at the talisman-like patterns on it, and then looked at Dazai Osamu who was wagging his tail. He could only regretfully admit that he did not have the ability to appreciate ultra-modern works of art, and promised to return the gift before the New Year.
This kind of informed and tactful reply obviously touched Taizai Osamu's heart more than Moriogai's wailing. He not only generously forgave Bailibian's poor aesthetic ability, but also magnanimously said that Bailibian should not feel too pressured.
Although it was an art that could not be appreciated, after Dazai Osamu left, Bailibian still carefully framed the New Year's card he received - this was the first New Year's card he received, and the style was so unique.
Dazai Osamu's behavior gave Bailibian a good inspiration, and he also planned to make some New Year's cards and give them to people he knew.
He immediately went to the convenience store and bought ten semi-finished greeting cards the day after making up his mind. Sure, he admitted there was a bit of laziness involved, but gifts are all about the thought. As long as the greetings were written and the gift was given, it didn't really matter whether it was a finished product or a semi-finished one, right? It was like making chocolate: you cultivate and harvest the raw materials step by step. Handcrafting it yourself is certainly a sign of sincerity, but it doesn't necessarily taste any better than buying a pre-made chocolate, melting it, and then adding your own creative touches.
Since it is a semi-finished product, it is particularly convenient to make. Write words such as "Happy New Year" and "Wish you a prosperous life" on it, draw some auspicious patterns, and sign your name at the end. Then, a greeting card is ready.
But the process of making a greeting card never ends with its completion; more importantly, it has to be sent out.
So who should it be given to? Hyakube was confident, having lived in Yokohama for nearly three years, until he started counting heads on his fingers. Officer Murase was definitely in the mix. While his determination to work hard and his increasing business meant their time together had decreased, that didn't diminish his image as a kind elder. As a source of inspiration, Dazai Osamu was definitely a must-have. Next up would probably be the unwavering Edogawa Ranpo. President Fukuzawa Yukichi and Dr. Yosano could also be included.
The destination of half of the greeting cards has been decided, so how should the remaining 5 be distributed?
Although he attended school for two years, Bailibian was unable to establish deep friendships with his classmates because he transferred schools halfway through and was blessed with the aura of a top student. Even the teachers deliberately avoided talking to him about life matters because they knew his family situation, fearing that talking too much would make him sad.
Although Chuuya Nakahara and Rambo, who had already gone abroad, still kept in touch with him, due to the special nature of their work, most of the time it was the other party who unilaterally chose the time to contact him. Moreover, sending a greeting card obviously required a clear address, but... Bailibian recalled the work schedule that Chuuya Nakahara had mentioned during the last phone call. Although the European Special Operations Bureau had always adhered to its six-hour work system, the location and scope of the work were indeed a bit too large. It was impossible to find anyone, really impossible to find anyone.
After thinking hard for a long time, Bailibian had an idea. He could also give a gift to the owner of the curry shop. They had just chatted two days ago, so giving him a simple New Year's gift would not seem out of place.
Then who else does he know?
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