Yesterday morning,
he sent me a message,
thanking me for information regarding his future.
"I will think about it :)"
and informing me of his current geographical location.

He only writes when he has ample time in between destinations.


This afternoon, he returned from his short trip,
bearing gifts of Momotaro's favorite sweets to share with everyone.
He divulged to me his lucky seat assignment at a stage show, next to a famous actor whose new drama series he has been a fervent fan of.
But he didn't have the courage to express his affections.

I told him I had gotten the same sweets four years ago, when I went to the same area,
to a region with the name "Valentine" in it,
to see the whimsically romantic works of Raymond Peynet.

Then, he made a sneezing-cat-face
(which I didn't notice initially)
when I repeatedly scraped aluminum foil with a spoon.
The combination of the two is as much a vice
to him as fingernails on chalk or paper is to me.

Before leaving, he told me that for late-August,
he is in the midst of planning a celebration for
August-born friends, including me.
He intends to turn his small yard into a beer garden.
I still have yet to learn the beauty of his favorite drink next to tea,
but his kind gesture made me look forward
to this year's birthday.

Even just a little.


::p.s.:: When will it be, that instead of exchanging
event information, we go somewhere together?