For The Sake Of Your Smile - Chapter 1

“You will have a fateful encounter in the near future.”

While drinking coffee at the café ‘El,’ he remembered the words of the fortune teller.

(A fateful encounter… really?)

With a furrowed brow, he spread butter on my toast.

Yesterday, he submitted his new work to the publisher.

No one physically brings their work anymore in this day and age. Sending it by email is the way to go. That’s how he’s always done it.

He recalled the words his editor said to him countless times.

“It’s decent, but it doesn’t have the same impact as your debut… we’re looking forward to your next work.”

“I’ve said it many times already, but I’m sorry for the result, so please contact us during the plot stage next time.”

He was confident in the work he submitted, but compared to his debut, he couldn’t help but back down.

It’s true that compared to that, it doesn’t pack the same punch.

He sighed in disappointment and published the rejected work on his website. It had become a routine.

However, this time, he deliberately went to meet with his editor face-to-face.

Suwazaki Koji, 42 years old. A writer.

No matter how many compliments he received, he could never be called handsome. With thick glasses, he wiped them with a damp towel and, on the same occasion, wiped his sweat-drenched, thinning hairline.

Having dreamed of being a writer for 30 years, writing was his everything.

In his works, he could portray many versions of myself. A man fighting to save the world, a beautiful boy surrounded by lovely girls, a hero leading the masses. It was always him who played those roles. By continuing to write, he was able to forget the painful reality.

His debut work was a big hit, and he quickly became famous, but his popularity didn’t last, and now hardly anyone remembers him.

This new work felt promising. The best thing he could write at this point in his life. That’s why he chose to personally submit it.

While discussing the content, the editor kept making subtle faces. But despite that, Koji’s passionate plea made the editor agree to at least give it a look.

For Koji, this new work could be seen as a gamble with his career as a writer. If it didn’t succeed, he was even considering putting down the pen.

That would be equivalent to denying his very existence.

—The end of his life.

Depending on the outcome, he considered that as a possible option.

It wasn’t surprising that he had resorted to fortune-telling.

(…That fortune teller didn’t say anything about my work, just said random things… Or maybe… was she mocking me for not having any luck with women?)

“Suwa-chan.”

The waitress, Kasumi, called out to him.

At 22 years old, she wore heavy makeup that was inappropriate for her age, smelling of sweet perfume. Koji would often masturbate at home thinking about her.

Naturally, Kasumi had no interest in Koji. In fact, she actively avoided this greasy regular.

Additionally, Koji had extreme social anxiety, especially when talking to women, and couldn’t hold a smooth conversation. This was another reason why Kasumi stayed away from him.

Koji, feeling overwhelmed by the smell of Kasumi’s perfume, quickly put on his glasses.

“W-What is it, Kasumi-chan? W-What’s wrong?”

“Sorry, Suwa-chan, it’s getting a bit crowded. Mind if you share the table?”

“…Ah, yeah… that’s fine.”

Koji’s house was about 10 minutes away by car. As part of his daily routine, he always came here for breakfast.

The cozy El café stood in a quiet town, with nostalgic traces of the past. Koji liked the atmosphere here. The fact that he could smoke freely was also a big plus.

Even though he had been a regular for three years, this was the first time he had been asked to share a table with someone.

After a while, a woman sat down in front of Koji.

“Excuse me… sorry for the intrusion…”

Koji was startled. Of all people, a woman? Sharing a table with a guy like him must feel like a punishment game to her. That’s what he thought.

However, when he looked around the café, he saw there were no other empty seats. Koji sighed in resignation and answered as calmly as he could.

“Y-Yeah, go ahead…”

She was a woman he had seen before, always sitting at the end of the counter, a regular at the café.

Like him, she was someone who loved this café. A sense of camaraderie formed in Koji, and without thinking, he spoke to her.

“Uh, um… you’re the person who always sits at the counter, right?”

“Y-Yes…”

The woman, with her head slightly lowered, answered like that and drank from her teacup, holding it with both hands.

“……”

After the response, a subtle sense of discomfort began to grow between the two.

There’s no need to think about it; it’s his fault.

Out of nowhere, she was approached by such an unpleasant middle-aged man. It must have been unpleasant.

What if this causes her to stop coming here? He was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt.

However, when he looked at the woman, she seemed confused but showed no signs of suspicion. Koji felt relieved.

That sense of relief sparked another desire inside Koji.

He had never had the opportunity to observe her, as they usually kept their distance.

I wonder what kind of woman she is.

I wondered if she could be used as a character in a novel. I wonder who’s cuter, Kasumi-chan or her.

Koji began to observe the woman.

She had glossy, jet-black hair, wearing a pale pink blouse and a beige skirt that reached her knees. She seemed to be in her late teens or early twenties. For that age, her clothes were somewhat plain.

He’d managed to check all this, but since she had kept her head down, he couldn’t see her face. Giving in to his curiosity, Koji spoke to her.

“A-Are you a student?”

At Koji’s words, the woman slowly raised her face.

In that moment, Koji was struck by a sensation like being hit by lightning.

Her large eyes were filled with sorrow. Her small lips were like cherry blossoms.

Her smooth, white skin was fresh and dewy. She was the complete opposite of the waitress Kasumi, an innocent beauty.

The woman, who had looked down again, whispered her answer.

“…I’m an office worker…”

“It’s Sunday today, right? Or maybe… are you the type of person who can’t start the day without coming here?”

“Y-yes…”

His voice was trembling. Koji told himself to calm down and speak slowly.

However, the more he was conscious of it, the quicker his pulse became.

“Wh-What’s your name?”

At his question, her expression darkened.

Had he gotten carried away? He thought so, but there was no turning back now.

Moreover, if he missed this chance, he probably wouldn’t be able to speak to her again. He made up his mind.

The woman stared at the table and ran her index finger across her lips.

He became mesmerized by the gesture and caught his breath.

The sigh that escaped her lips sent a shiver down his spine.

After a moment, her small lips moved faintly.

“…It’s Suzuka…”

“S-Suzuka, huh… That’s a beautiful name. I wonder what characters it’s written with.”

“…It’s written with the kanji for mountain flowers and lily of the valley… It’s read as Suzuka.”

“Lily of the valley…”

In the language of flowers lily of the valley means “return of happiness,” “overflowing beauty,’ and “purity.”

He thought, this name suits her perfectly.

Koji took out his fountain pen and wrote ‘Suzuran,’ and the woman nodded slightly.

“Y-yes, even in writing, it’s beautiful… A-ah, I’m Koji. Suwazaki Koji.”

“I know……”

“Huh?”

“You’re the one who wrote ‘The Great Fire Kingdom,’ aren’t you? Mr. Hazaki Soichiro?”

Koji was shocked.

“W-wait, how do you know that? Even the owner doesn’t know that I’m a writer!”

“I… I’m a big fan of yours, Sensei…”

A warm feeling surged in Koji’s chest.

“I come to this cafe to meet you, Sensei… I’ve always been watching you from that seat over there…”

“Just the thought that my beloved Sensei is eating breakfast while thinking about novels… That made me so happy… And now, to talk with you at the same table…”

Suzuka’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Today… really became a wonderful memory… Thank you so much.”

Saying that, Suzuka stood up. Koji hurriedly called out to her.

“C-Could you wait a moment? D-Do you have any plans after this?”

“No, nothing special…”

“A-Actually, I’m also free at the moment. If you don’t mind, would you like to go for a drive with me now?”

“Eh?”

Suzuka raised her head.

“O-Of course… I’m not saying you have to, though…”

“Is that okay, Sensei?”

“Please, don’t call me Sensei. J-Just Koji Koji… How about it, Suzuka-san?”

“Y-Yes… I’m looking forward to it…”

“Y-y-yes, it’s decided! Let’s go, Suzuka-san!”

“Please… call me Suzuka.”

Koji’s face turned as red as his ears, but he took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

“O-okay! S-s-Suzuka! Let’s go!”

He grabbed both receipts and rushed to his feet.

“Huh? Suwa-chan, are you leaving already?”

“Ah, yeah. I, uh, just remembered something I need to do.”

Kasumi, noticing Suzuka behind her, wore a shocked expression.

“No way…”

“Kasumi-chan?”

“Ah… it’s nothing, sorry… are you paying together?”

“Ah, yeah…”

Kasumi, ringing up the order, had a twisted smile on her lips. It was an obvious sneer.

(What can I do… I’m with such a beautiful woman…)

“T-This is the car I bought from The Great Fire Kingdom.”

“A wine-red Benz… it’s lovely. I really love red.”

“I-I’ve been told this doesn’t suit an old man like me… but I’m glad you like it. Go ahead, get in.”

As Suzuka put on her seatbelt, Koji started the engine.

“H-How about we go to the sea?”

A beautiful woman was sitting in the passenger seat of his car. Koji felt like he was in a dream.

Suzuka still had her head lowered, but she listened carefully, not showing any displeasure despite Koji stumbling over his words.

As Koji drove, the words of the fortune-teller resurfaced in his mind.

“You will have a fateful encounter in the near future.”

Chapter length 4381 characters.