After checking into his hotel for a one-night stay, the old man stepped out of his accommodation. Looking up at the sky, he saw birds chirping under the clear blue canopy. He thought to himself that it might be a good idea to buy a fan from a nearby vendor. After handing over the money with a smile, they exchanged a polite nod. He found a bench, opened the fan, and sat down to cool himself under the hot sun. He spent a while simply watching people go by. Soon, his stomach began to grumble. l think it's time for a good lunch, he muttered, glancing at his watch with a grin. He stood up and made his way into a nearby shopping district. He came upon a takoyaki stand and bought a portion. He ate it while standing near the stall, watching as people waited for their turn. After devouring his first victim, his eyes were already on his next prey. Right next to the takoyaki stand was a yakitori stall. He gestured to the server for two portions and once again watched as people came to order food. Not yet satisfied with the prey he had caught, he continued to scan the area. He chose his next victim—steamed sweet potatoes—and ate them while walking. Then he spotted an ikayaki stand. Finishing off the last of his snack mercilessly, he hurried to order grilled squid and ate it while watching customers come and go. Now walking with a toothpick between his lips, belly rounded and shirt buttons on the verge of bursting, he strolled on. He passed scenes of children with their parents and young people in school uniforms, the afternoon sun now settling somewhere between 4:00 and 6:00 PM." He decided to sit on a bench, breathed in deeply, and closed his eyes.  Just then his phone rang. The caller ID said Daughter. He answered. In the distance, you could see him laughing and smiling while she talked. People passed by like shadows as time moved on. 

"Okay then," she said.It sounds like you're having a good time over there. Just don't stay up all night, and don't drink too much. But if you do, please do it at the hotel. I don't want you walking alone at night drunk."

 "l can handle myself perfectly fine, thank you," he said with mock offense.

"Hmm, she replied with a puffed cheek. 

"Okay then. Have fun. Bye!

 Bye, he echoed. 

When the call ended the sun had already set. He looked at his phone with a mild annoyance and said. 

"l didn't take a train halfway across the country just to eat dinner at a hotel and sleep."

He got up and began walking through the food district, eyes scanning the stores and streams of people. Suddenly, he caught the scent of an aroma trail, which led him to an izakaya not far away. He lifted the noren curtain hanging at the entrance and stepped inside. He glanced at the liquor shelf. His daughter’s face appeared in his mind—her pointing at him sternly and warning him, 

"Don’t drink outside the hotel at night.'" 

 He waved the image away like smoke. He looked to his side. Tonight’s special: curry, the board read, One plate of tonight's special, please, he told the chef. Coming right up, the chef replied. We see the chef  ladle rice, pour thick curry over it, and garnish it with parsley, then place it on the counter. The man eats in silence, occasionally glancing at the sake bottles on the shelf. Just as he finished, three middle-aged salarymen entered the izakaya. 

"One sake by the bottle, please! the man shouted. Tonight, we celebrate my daughters engagement! 

 The old man smiled and offered congratulations as the group took seats on both sides of him. The man said, 

"Please, have a glass in honor of my daughter," he insisted. 

"Let’s all be merry! It’s my treat." 

 The old man chuckled, shyly lifting his empty glass. 

"Well, one won’t hurt. 

 We see him as he sits, taking his first sip, then letting out a satisfied grunt—then another sip, and then another. 

The four men, now with their arms around each other’s necks, swaying side to side, singing gibberish. The old man gets up to leave, and the happy father does too—flushed and tipsy. They both bow to each other formally, then hug. Meanwhile, the younger men salute the old man as he walks away in their drunken state. The old man walks, stumbling with every step, down a quiet alley on his way to his hotel. He bumps into a bin and begins to look visibly nauseous. A voice in the distance calls out, 

 “Sir, are you all right?” 

He does not turn—still bent over—as images of all the food he’s eaten appear in his mind. As the girl helping him comes into view, we see that it’s Mugi, with Yuzu watching quietly while she rubs the old man’s back. At that moment, his body couldn’t hold it anymore—and he puked a lot of rainbows, with little clouds at the bottom. The streetlamp the only light near them shines down on him and Mugi. Now the old man waves, as if to dismiss them, and walks off without a word. Mugi and Yuzu remain, watching him as he goes. He arrives at his hotel room, still fully dressed. He collapses onto the bed, smiling like a fool. While still lying there, he turns his head and looks out past his hotel room balcony at the clear skies and full moon. He gets up, grabs a bottle of water from the mini-fridge, takes a sip, and steps onto the balcony. He loosens his tie, unbuttons the top of his shirt, and smiles peacefully as the light of the moon shines on his face. In the stillness of the night, while the moon kissed his face, a quiet sick feeling came over him. Now, with both hands gripping the railing... A river of rainbows and clouds poured out of him. 

 "HEYYYY!" someone below screams.

The end.     

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