laughing. “He’s joking again, Tanaka-san. My brother can be sarcastic at times. You’ll learn his sense of humor.”
Tanaka smiled and nodded his head.
“Well,” Bonnie said, “I’ve gotta check in for work.”
Cain and Bonnie hugged each other tightly as they prepared to leave the Starbucks.
“See you soon,” Cain said.
“Can’t wait!” she exclaimed. “I’m still in shock you’re here. Call me selfish, but I’m glad things worked out like this.”
“Like what?” Cain asked.
“For the better. You’re finally here!” She turned to Tanaka. “Take care of my brother.”
“He looks like he can take care of himself,” Tanaka said.
Bonnie laughed. “True, but trouble always seems to find him.”
“That makes two of us. Two good people fleeing trouble back home only to end up in Japan,” Cain said.
Bonnie smiled and then embraced her brother one more time.
Cain allowed himself to feel a surge of joy deep in his heart. Maybe this will actually work out, he thought.
“Safe flight!” he shouted to Bonnie as she headed back to Narita’s departure lobby.
Chapter 34
“Our company has arranged for Black Cat to deliver your luggage to your apartment. It’ll be there, waiting for you in a couple of hours,” Tanaka said as they approached the Black Cat counter at Narita airport.
“That’s cool,” Cain said. “Is this popular?”
“Yes. It’s cheap, too. Many Japanese use this company so they don’t have to carry their luggage on the trains. As you will see, the trains are very crowded.”
“Makes sense,” Cain said. “And it’s thoughtful. I’ll hold on to my backpack, though.”
After dropping off Cain’s small suitcase, he and Tanaka took the escalators down to the basement floor of Narita International Airport, where Tanaka used a computer kiosk to purchase two tickets for the rapid train to Yokohama.
“I’m amazed,” Cain said. “Everyone actually stands on the left-hand side to allow people to walk past on the right. That never works in America—even when there are signs.”
“Yes. I know. America encourages the individual. Japan encourages harmony in the whole.”
Tanaka showed Cain how to cross-reference his ticket with the digital sign on the train. “This is our train. It departs in three minutes.”
They boarded and took their assigned seats. The train was full.
“Tokyo is overrated, I think,” Tanaka said. “I much prefer Yokohama.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Cain-san, to a gaijin, everything looks the same here. But to a Japanese person, we see the differences.”
“If you and I are going to work together, we’ve gotta iron out a few things. First, just call me Cain. Plus, you and I look to be the same age. How old are you, anyway?”
“I’m thirty-five.”
“Okay, so I’m just a few years older,” Cain said. “And secondly, I want you to teach me to see these differences you talk about.”
“Okay, Mr. Cain.”
Cain chuckled. “Just Cain will be fine. We’re operators. We’re going to be working together. You’re gonna be my second-in-command. We have to trust each other.”
“Okay.” Tanaka smiled. “You have my word.”
“Talk’s cheap, Tanaka. Let’s shake on it.”
They shook hands.
“I’m still amazed. This train is completely full. We’re like sardines in a can, yet everyone is so polite. There’s nobody talking, besides me.” Cain chuckled lightly. “And when an elderly person gets on board, a younger person gives up their seat.”
“There are over thirteen million people in Tokyo. A city this size could never exist if we weren’t polite to each other,” Tanaka reasoned.
“And so many people are reading—actually reading—a book! It’s a dying hobby in America.”
“Maybe that is because America makes the best movies,” Tanaka said, and smiled. “I wanted to visit Hollywood when I was in college, but I never made the time. I can’t wait to visit California someday.”
About an hour later, they arrived in the city. From the train window, before it went into the station, Cain noticed flickering lights and a Ferris wheel in the background.
“Before we go to your apartment,” Tanaka said, “I’d like to take you to my favorite izakaya.”
“Gesundheit.”
“What?” a confused Tanaka said.
“I thought you sneezed. What was that word you said? Isa—”
“Izakaya. It’s the Japanese word for pub. I would like to buy you a drink at my favorite izakaya.”
“Now you’re talking, Tanaka-san. I can use a drink before sleeping like the dead tonight.”
The izakaya was loud and boisterous. Through the thick fog of cigarette smoke, Cain could see that the place was packed with Japanese businessmen in suits. The men were yelling at one another to be heard over the buzz of the crowd.
“This seems like a complete contrast to the Japanese men I saw at the airport and on the train.”