April 24, 2000
San Francisco
The sushi place was small and warm, tucked between two narrow storefronts on a quiet street.
Steve arrived a few minutes early and took a seat near the window. The room smelled faintly of rice vinegar and soy sauce.
He glanced at the door every few seconds.
A few minutes later it opened.
Mizuki stepped inside.
He spotted Steve immediately and smiled.
"Hey."
"Hey," Steve said, standing up.
Mizuki slid into the seat across from him.
For a moment they both laughed slightly, the awkward energy of two people meeting for the first time outside of chance encounters.
"So," Steve said, picking up the menu, "sushi was your idea."
Mizuki grinned.
"Yeah. I figured it was a safe choice."
"You come here a lot?"
"Sometimes after work."
Steve nodded.
They ordered quickly.
For a few minutes they made small talk about the city — the fog, the hills, the strange feeling of neighborhoods changing every few blocks.
Then Steve hesitated slightly.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.
Mizuki looked up.
"Sure."
Steve rubbed the back of his neck.
"I noticed when we first talked... you had a little bit of an accent."
Mizuki smiled.
"I was wondering when you'd ask."
Steve laughed nervously.
"I didn't want to be rude and assume you weren't from here."
Mizuki shook his head.
"No, it's okay."
He reached for his tea.
"I'm from Japan."
Steve leaned forward slightly.
"Really?"
Mizuki nodded.
"Yeah. I moved here a few years ago."
"That's a big move."
Mizuki shrugged lightly.
"My parents thought it would be a good experience."
Steve studied him for a moment.
"Do you miss it?"
Mizuki thought about the question for a second.
"Sometimes," he said.
Then he smiled faintly.
"But things are... different there."
"How?"
Mizuki rested his hands on the table.
"Well," he said slowly, "I'm an only child."
Steve nodded.
"And in my family," Mizuki continued, "that means a lot of expectations."
Steve listened quietly.
"My parents worked very hard to give me opportunities," Mizuki said. "So I try to work hard too."
Steve laughed a little.
"You work more than anyone I know."
Mizuki smiled.
"I just try to stay busy."
At that moment the sushi arrived.
They both paused as the plates were set down between them.
Steve picked up his chopsticks.
"You know," he said, "I'm glad Tommy's restaurant exists."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Steve grinned.
"Otherwise I probably wouldn't have seen you again."
Mizuki looked down at his plate for a moment, smiling quietly.
Then he glanced back up.
"Yeah," he said.
"I'm glad too."