Akira

Having recently moved to Kagoshima with her boyfriend, she'd already settled comfortably into the old traditional house. Soon they'd be celebrating the cherry blossoms together again, just like they used to in Tokyo. Walking barefoot down the steep attic stairs, the soft tummies of the cats once again spread out on the steps. She and Akira loved them dearly, though they couldn't name any of them. It all sounded bad. Walking along the old planks of the house, she headed to the bedroom. Pushing the heavy door aside, she found herself confronted by a very homely scene: Akira lying on a warm futon, watching some reality show like "Takeshi's Castle," puffing on a bitter-tasting cigarette, the smoke escaping gently into the dark sky outside.