The sun was hiding behind the clouds as the leaves fell from the trees.
Shinji and Rika were having a conversation while walking along the streets of Himuka Shinwa. Saito Town was a really peaceful place.
"Well, Shinji, the paper said 24th Street, right?" Rika said, pointing at a simple-looking traditional machiya house. "This is the Yamazaki residence," she added.
"Is this the right address?" Shinji asked, doubting whether they had come to the correct location.
"Of course, idiot! That's what the paper said. Besides, the Yamazaki residence is really quiet, so get used to it," Rika replied, her expression cautious.
"It's getting late, Shinji. I must go home now. Maybe I'll bump into you again tomorrow," Rika said as she bid him farewell. "Oh, by the way, my house isn't far from here, so we'll probably meet again."
Shinji watched Rika leave, hesitating to knock on the door.
"Come on, come on, I can do this," he muttered to himself.
He approached the wooden door, made of bamboo, and read the sign above it that said, "Welcome and Goodbye."
Shinji knocked on the door twice, but received no answer. He tried again, yet no one responded.
"Hello, Mr. Yamazaki…" he called, hesitating. Suddenly, a deep voice responded, "Coming."
Shinji's nerves kicked in as the wooden bamboo door swung open, revealing a tall man with long hair—his uncle.
"Oh, Shinji, you're here!" he exclaimed, welcoming Shinji inside.
"Nice to meet you, Uncle. It's been a while," Shinji greeted Mr. Nakayama.
"Come in, come in! Your drunk bastard father called me not long ago. He said, "You want to move in, huh?" Mr. Nakayama said with a stern look. "Come on, I'll show you around."
Upon entering the house, Shinji noticed that the interior was neat and comfortable, yet he wondered if his uncle lived alone. "Uh, Mr. Nakayama, do you live alone?" he asked.
"Yeah…" Mr. Nakayama replied, his expression lonely.
Shinji, sensing the awkwardness, quickly added, "Ah, I didn't mean to pry. Forgive me, Mr. Nakayama."
Mr. Nakayama chuckled. "Hahaha, no need to be formal. Just call me Uncle; that works," he smiled, though it seemed forced.
"Yes, Uncle, haha," Shinji smiled back at him.
"Oh, you must be tired. Hold on, I'll show you your room," Nakayama said as he guided Shinji to an empty room near the kitchen.
When Mr. Nakayama opened the door, Shinji saw that it was filled with musical instruments. There was a bookshelf and a futon on the side, making it look quite comfortable.
"Haha, sorry for the mess. It used to be my studio when I was a teenager, but it's yours now. Do whatever you want with it," he said as he headed back to the couch near the kitchen.
As Shinji looked around the room, he was amazed by his uncle's studio. There were many fancy guitars and basses hanging on the wall that would probably be worth a lot of money.
After a short while, Shinji put down his baggage and drifted off to sleep on the comfortable futon.
Tomorrow would be the first day of Shinji's fourth year of high school.
It would probably be fun…
Or at least. That's what he hoped..