Grandma's inn—the Shiranami Teahouse & Inn—has been shut for over a year due to her health. It used to be a beloved spot, especially during the annual summer festival. Volunteers would fill the district with food and game stalls, laughter echoing into the night. The highlight was always the fireworks—hundreds of them bursting over the beach, all set off by Grandma herself.
She's been doing well for the past three months, and now she's asked Mum and me to help her reopen the inn.
"Much better down here, with less noise both inside and outside the house," Mum says, offering me a smile that carries a hint of guilt. It took her a month to convince me to move here, and even then, I wasn't thrilled.
I knew how badly she wanted to leave Dad—a man whose body was at work but whose mind was always stuck on the night before, counting his gambling wins.
But me? I loved Dad, even with his flaws. He always supported me, never judged my thoughts. Mum, on the other hand, pushed me into things I never wanted. She wanted to shape me into her version of the perfect daughter.
But she promised to change once we came to Okinawa. That promise was the only reason I agreed—leaving behind my friends, my youth, and my father.
"She's grown into such a cute young lady, hasn't she?" Grandma says with a warm smile, her wrinkles deepening.
"Feels like just yesterday I was changing her nappies," Mum adds, stroking my hair.
Okinawa is Mum's hometown. I was born here, and she and Dad moved to Tokyo when I turned five, once she'd recovered from the rough birth.
"I haven't smelt the ocean in years. Tokyo was nothing but work, work, work!" Mum says, picking up a slice of apple.
"It's good to see you both in good health," Grandma says. "Thank you for coming all this way to help, especially when you're so tired."
"This was nothing," Mum replies. "I should've been here when your health was declining. You were there when I gave birth to little Ayumi—anything for you from now on, Mama."
Grandma smiles again, then turns to me.
"How have you been, Ayu-chan?"
I take the last piece of apple and mumble, "Alright."
Mum squeezes my hand under the table. I'd promised her I'd be good to Grandma—after all, she was the one who took care of me when Mum couldn't.
"Tokyo was great. High school was fun, and I enjoyed everything there. I wish I could go—"
I bite my lip.
"—I wish I could live the same way here in Okinawa," I finish, my heart beating a little faster from the near slip.
"The local high school is only a ten-minute walk," Grandma says. "You can wear your mum's old uniform—it's still in mint condition. You look just like her when she was your age. The older teachers are going to be shocked! But they'll know the difference—you're more academically focused and better behaved than she ever was."
Mum flushes slightly as Grandma chuckles. Even I laugh, and Mum quickly adds, "Hey, I wasn't that bad!" before getting up to wash the fruit plate.
I glance at the clock—it's close to eleven.
"Yumi, you should sleep now," Mum calls from the kitchen. "We need a lot of energy for tomorrow. We've got to clean the whole inn top to bottom. And don't forget, you'll need to practise walking to and from school."
"Mhm, alright. I'll wash up now. Good night, Grandma!"
I rush up the stairs.