Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

Shibuya Ward in Tokyo.

From its inception, its target audience has been fashion-conscious young people who pursue trends.

It is also one of the five most central wards of Tokyo.

If stepping into Bunkyo Ward immediately evokes a scholarly atmosphere, then entering Shibuya Ward will give you a taste of trendiness.

Fashion is the hallmark of Shibuya Ward.

Fujino had just stepped out of Shibuya Station.

It's like Lu Zhishen entering the Grand View Garden; everything feels new and exciting.

The reason is simple: the Shibuya Station Crossing is known as the "busiest intersection in the world".

While it's widely known that Japanese media exaggerate to the highest degree globally, it also reflects the density of people coming and going here.

Besides office workers in suits, there were also young people dressed in all sorts of strange and unusual clothes.

There are rock youths with elements like studs and skulls, cosplayers dressed in various cosplay costumes, and the most famous Shibuya Gyaru...

Fujino looked at the address Hanako had left in the text message, his gaze avoiding the various passersby, trying his best to confirm the direction.

"I didn't realize Hanako would choose a place like this to meet us."

This was truly unexpected for him.

In his view, Hanako was more like a traditional Japanese woman of the Yamato Nadeshiko type.

Although she can be a bit eccentric, she usually appears very gentle and charming.

He moved at a snail's pace along the bustling streets of Shibuya.

The giant electronic screens on the street have a consistently high appearance rate in various film and television programs, both in the past and present.

Even though Fujino doesn't watch TV much, he felt that these scenes looked somewhat familiar.

It looks very familiar.

He reconfirmed the direction.

Judging from the address and name, it's a cafe located in Dogenzaka.

It was only about a 10-minute walk from the tram stop, but Fujino stumbled and walked for 25 minutes.

It wasn't until he turned the corner of Dogenzaka that he felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.

This place is like a forgotten corner in the bustling city center, with the surrounding streets several blocks empty and even sparsely populated.

As Fujino caught his breath and straightened up, he saw Hanako sitting outside the coffee shop, quietly flipping through a book.

She was as quiet as a beautiful statue.

Hanako was wearing a white dress today, and a plain-colored wide-brimmed straw hat was on the table.

She was clearly wearing light makeup today, and her skin reflected a white glow in the sunlight, appearing crystal clear.

Fujino stood less than 3 meters away from her, quietly watching Hanako.

Her eyebrows trembled slightly, her expression focused, occasionally turning the pages of her book and taking a sip of her coffee.

A bright red lipstick mark remained on the white bone china cup, but Hanako didn't care.

It seemed like she only had eyes for that book.

Fujino became curious.

He had seen Hanako who wasn't crazy, but this was the first time he had seen Hanako so serene, like a secluded orchid in a valley.

He shuffled his feet, wanting to see what book Hanako was so interested in.

Standing behind Hanako, a new page comes into view.

"On a sunny April morning, I met the girl of my dreams."

Fujino nodded slightly; he had also had the pleasure of reading this book.

This is one of the more famous short stories in Haruki Murakami's collection.

Meeting the 100% Perfect Girl

"If you met someone who was 100% perfect... Fujino-san, what do you think you should do if you did?"

As Fujino stood there lost in thought, Hanako's voice came from in front of him.

She gently pulled out the chair next to her and patted the seat.

Fujino did not answer.

This is a trap.

The story of this novel is just like its title suggests: turning a corner in the early morning and encountering a girl who is 100% perfect.

Haruki Murakami recounts in the first person all the possible scenarios, as well as the stream-of-consciousness thoughts of the boy who brushed past the girl he felt was perfect.

The problem is... this is also the question he's always wanted to ask Hanako.

Why do I think he's the perfect person?

Or, why did she want to follow him from the very beginning?

Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a long time, Hanako picked up her coffee.

That was a latte.

Add sugar and milk, and it's slightly sweet.

She took a sip and called out to the shop owner.

"One cappuccino, normal sweetness, to go."

Just as Fujino was surprised that Hanako knew his preferences, he met her sly gaze.

"I'm your stalker, of course I know your preferences."

That statement was too terrifying for Fujino to respond.

Hanako didn't seem to expect Fujino to answer and continued.

"How difficult do you think it is to meet someone in this vast sea of ​​people?"

Fujino turned the pages of the book and pointed to a passage.

"I could tell at a glance from 50 meters away: to me, she was a 100% girl."

"To need the other person 100% and to be needed by them 100%—what a wonderful thing that is! It's a miracle of the universe!"

"A 100% destined connection, if we were to meet, would surely be a cosmic miracle."

Fujino's answer was formal, but it was clearly not the answer Hanako wanted.

She gently pulled Fujino's arm and leaned on his shoulder.

This kind of ambiguous dialogue made Fujino very uncomfortable.

He prefers to explain things clearly.

Just as he was about to speak, Hanako leaned on his shoulder and said softly, "I prefer another sentence."

"I should have started the conversation with her like this."

Upon hearing this, Fujino stiffened for a moment.

The last time he received such direct and intense emotion was when he was in kindergarten playing house with his friends.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

A sparrow flew overhead.

It chirped and chattered.

There were even sounds of teeth grinding?

Fujino made an excuse to get the coffee from the meal.

At the food counter, the owner just handed another girl in sportswear a glass of iced Americano.

The boss is a young woman in her early thirties.

She smiled gently as she made coffee for Fujino, saying:

"Your girlfriend has been waiting for you for half an hour. She's such a serene woman; she looks like a goddess when she's reading."

Fujino didn't speak; his attention was focused on the girl in sportswear from earlier.

I always felt a murderous intent emanating from her.

Are all girls who love wearing sportswear this sharp?

He sat back down opposite Hanako.

Because of Haruki Murakami's book, the atmosphere between Fujino and Hanako seems to have eased a lot.

He asked the question as if it were casual.

"So, what do you think a perfect lover should be like?"

Hanako's eyes shone with light.

She looked at Fujino and unconsciously reached out her hand.

Her slender fingers gently caressed Fujino's cheek.

"You were the first ray of light to shine into my helpless life."

Fujino felt the mysterious slime tightening its grip on his arm even more.

They always claim to be some kind of light or salvation, but that kind of thing is too abstract.

Suddenly, Hanako's voice stopped.

My body tensed up.

Fujino followed her gaze.

An old woman with a sinister face and two bodyguards in black suits standing behind her stood next to them.

"Hanako-chan, is this your man?"

"Aren't you going to introduce me to them?"