Page 114 of Something So Strong

“I don’t know if I like it,” I admit, despite Saxon being half-Japanese. “If it isn’t sushi, I’ve never tried it.”

“Well, prepare to have your mind blown.”

Past the delicious smells wafting out of the stalls, Kai guides me to the end of the street, where many people have brought folding chairs and are sitting watching a band perform on a temporary stage. Between the last two buildings, I’m pulled into an even more compact alley until we enter a weird back street. To our right, there’s an external wooden staircase, and my eyes narrow as Kai starts walking towards it.

“Don’t you trust me?” he fake sulks.

More than you’ll ever know. “Can’t say I’ve been to many back alley, second floor restaurants with no signs.”

“Isn’t London full of this shit?”

“Yeah, but only posers ever go to them.”

“Fine. If you wanna miss out on the best meal of your life, we can go somewhere else,” Kai says bluntly, pulling me back towards the high street.

I tug my hand from his and stubbornly cross my arms—playing along. “No. I wanna go here.”

“Alright, if you insist.” Kai rolls his head, then raises his arms and whacks them against his thighs in a fake huff.

The stairs are so tight we have to climb them single file, and at the top, Kai taps his hand against a small piece of metal on the door. “See, they do have a sign.”

Inside, I’m punched in the face with the intensity of smells, smoke, and atmosphere. No bigger than our rooms at the resort, bench seats line each side with stools opposite them, long flat-top grills run between the seats, and at the far end is a small bar and kitchen.

“Ah, Mr. Kai,” an elderly woman’s voice cuts through the j-pop and conversation as she hobbles towards us with her arms held out.

“Good to see you, Tanaka-San,” Kai replies, accepting her hug.

She waves her arm, “Come, come,” and guides us to the last open seats right next to the bar. “You having same, or you want to look at menu?” she asks like her words are racing against Usain Bolt as she waves the laminated sheets in her hand.

“Still feisty as ever, Tanaka-San.” Kai cheekily snatches the menus from her. “We’ll start with two Sapporo draughts, and I’ll let this one know what’s good.”

“Don’t speak to me like that.” She pulls on his ear. “You know everything here is good.” Then, with an overzealous cackle, she disappears into the kitchen.

My forehead crinkles as I accept the menu from Kai. “I thought I was your first date?”

“You are.”

“So Mr. Regular comes here alone?”

“Sometimes I do.” He shrugs.

“So how did you find out about this place, then?”

“Japanese chick I was fucking.” Averting my gaze, I watch as he studies the menu.

“Hmm. First date, my ass.”

Two glasses are slammed down between us, interrupting my interrogation.

“We’ll start with the veggie gyoza, then have the chicken yakisoba and the wagyu okonomiyaki.” Kai gestures to me. “Do you want anything else?”

I haven’t even looked at the fucking menu.

Straight-faced, I hand him back the menu as Tanaka-San squats down to click on the gas beneath our table.

“Full hot in ten minutes, gyoza in five,” she barks before waddling off again.

“Were you ever going to ask my opinion?”

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