Chapter 12

Chapter 12: 012, Okaasan, Onii-chan Turned into a Handsome Guy!

How to spend a New Year in the Showa era?

In Nagayama Naoki’s impression, it was nothing more than eating, drinking, playing, and doing homework. After all, this was his first New Year since formally entering society.

But life still had to go on: buying a bed, furniture, appliances, daily necessities, moving into a new home—everything had to be done step by step.

There was one week left until New Year, and gifts had to be bought.

Mrs. Makino, the landlord, said her children would soon return for the holidays, and her face couldn’t hide her happiness when mentioning it.

Nakai Genta had already gone back to his hometown with Hoshino Suzumi. What kind of development was that? Straight to meeting the parents?

In the end, the last days of moving were done by Naoki alone. All his belongings fit into a single suitcase. After saying goodbye to Mrs. Makino, on the afternoon of December 26th in Showa 55, he finally moved into his first apartment.

The housewarming dinner was eaten alone. But even after forty years of being single in total, eating alone was still no problem. After that, he read magazines, listened to records, watched old television programs, and went to bed after washing up.

It looked lonely, but given Naoki’s original personality, there was nothing that could be done. Being able to make friends like Nakai Genta and Hoshino Suzumi by the end of the year was already quite good. Japan itself was also a rather lonely society.

But owning a home was different. It was a symbol of taking root in a city.

Sleeping in a place that belonged only to himself, Naoki slept deeply that night.

The next day, he handled nothing special—just informed a few acquaintances of his move and new landline number, and familiarized himself with the neighborhood.

On the third day, he packed gifts and prepared to return home for the New Year.

The train toward Shizuoka slowly departed. Naoki Nagayama retraced the route he had taken when first coming to Tokyo a year ago, now heading back home.

Shizuoka was a coastal city located between Osaka and Tokyo. Its port conditions were quite good. If not for the surrounding mountains and limited flat land, it might have developed into a major port city like Tokyo Bay.

After exiting the station and following familiar roads, he arrived at a residential area. The house was a standard detached home built about 20 years ago after his father Ken got married.

Seeing the nameplate reading “Nagayama Ken,” he felt a wave of nostalgia—his mother, his older brother, himself, and Tsuruko… growing up in this house, leaving a year ago… a sudden emotional distance surfaced.

“Onii-chan?”

A voice suddenly called out beside him.

It was almost New Year’s, and since it was the last day of middle school, Tsuruko had just returned home with a group of friends after cleaning up.

One of the girls suddenly noticed the figure in front of the Nagayama house and whispered, “Hey, look! There’s a handsome guy! Really stylish and handsome!” The others all turned their attention.

The figure was a tall young man with a toned body from fitness training in Tokyo. He was no longer weak-looking. Even his height had increased by a few centimeters, approaching 180 cm. A short, clean fringe haircut framed a refined face.

In Tokyo, he had also learned styling techniques from professional stylists during the commercial shoot.

Dressed in a gray turtleneck sweater, a dark gray plaid coat, black cropped pants, and white sneakers, he looked like a cold, aloof modern man.

In Tokyo, he blended into crowds of eccentric youth and hippies. But in Shizuoka, he looked like someone from an entirely different world.

“Why is such a handsome guy standing in front of my house?” Tsuruko thought in confusion. She walked closer under her friends’ urging.

The closer she got, the more familiar he felt.

This person was…

“Onii-chan?”

He turned around.

“Oh, Tsuruko. School’s on break already?”

Naoki recognized the group of girls in school uniforms and understood immediately.

“Ehh?! Is that really Onii-chan?”

“No way…”

“So cool…”

“Did you just come back from Tokyo?”

The neighbors all knew the original Naoki, and now they couldn’t believe it.

Naoki smiled at them.

“Hello everyone. I just came back from Tokyo.”

Then he opened the door and went inside.

“Tsuruko, let’s go in.”

“Okay! Sorry everyone, I’m going in first!”

She hurriedly said goodbye and followed him inside.

Their mother Nanako was already in the living room, having heard the noise.

When Naoki entered, she looked up.

“I’m home, Okaasan.”

For a moment, Nanako froze. This stylish young man… was her son?

“Okaasan, big news! Onii-chan turned into a handsome guy!” Tsuruko shouted, breaking the silence.

Nanako quickly came over, took his luggage, and had him sit in the living room. Tsuruko immediately sat beside him, firing questions nonstop:

“Why did you become so handsome?”

“Where did you buy those clothes?”

“What hairstyle is that?”

Naoki could only answer them one by one. Nanako placed the luggage in his old room, brewed tea, and sat down to listen.

“Because I earned some money from commercials and songwriting, I moved to a new place. I’ll give you the new address and phone number.”

“Commercials? You became a model?” Tsuruko asked.

“No, just a one-time collaboration.”

“What kind of commercial?”

“A green plum soda.”

“Green plum? Is it good? Where can I buy it?”

“It hasn’t been released yet.”

“You’re still writing songs? Since when did you become a composer?”

“No, I just wrote some lyrics and they were accepted by an agency.”

Nanako occasionally joined in with questions. The distance that had built up over time slowly dissolved through conversation.

By lunchtime, the talk paused.

The meal was home-cooked food, the familiar taste from childhood. After a long time without it, it felt deeply satisfying.

After eating, Tsuruko helped with the dishes while Naoki sat casually in the living room drinking tea, already adapting to this lifestyle.

A small head peeked out from the kitchen.

“Did you buy my New Year gift?”

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

“It only has meaning if you discover it yourself.”

“You’re so annoying… after going to Tokyo, you’ve become mysterious.”

In the evening, their father Ken and older brother Aoki finally returned.

When they saw Naoki, Ken almost asked, “Who are you?” Aoki was even more shocked: “This is Naoki?”

But after sitting down, silence returned again.

Ken and Naoki were both quiet, stubborn personalities. Communication had always been minimal. Aoki had many questions but didn’t know how to ask.

So Naoki broke the silence:

“Father, has the izakaya already closed for the holidays?”

“Yes, it’s closed from today until the 4th.”

“How was business this year? Has Aoki started taking over yet?”

“Business improved thanks to more companies in the city. But Aoki still needs training.”

“Father! I’ve learned all the dishes already!” Aoki protested.

“You still have a long way to go!”

And so, conversation slowly continued into the evening and after dinner.