Sakura became restless since Thursday. She climbed to the second floor twice to check the setting and furniture and if the room was clean. She started to rehearse in her mind what to say to her first guest, and she literally took out all the clothes she brought with her from Tokyo as she could not decide the right clothes to wear.

"It will be hot tomorrow. Wear that little checkered skirt with a plain top. My Saa-chan looks fabulous in that." Rino suddenly appears from nowhere.

Sakura looks up, startled, "eh?"

Rino waves her off, "and I am going to the coop tomorrow. Anything you want?"

"I...no...eh..." Sakura suddenly remembers she has asked grandma three times if they have enough food for the 3 of them for breakfast since last night. 

"Maybe I should go and see if they sell any Kimchi?" Rino raises her eyebrows to tease Sakura.

"Grandma!" Sakura protests.

Rino laughs. "Then maybe some bitter melon?"

"Ah! You know I cannot eat bitter melon!" Sakura pouts and acts cute.

"Maybe your guest will like it, you'd better ask her."

Rino laughs and walked away.

Sakura checks her phone. It's now 10:02 pm. She taps on the LINE app and types a message: do you like bitter melon?

It is a message to Chaeyeon. The two have decided to continue their chats on LINE the next day after they "met" and vigorously exchanged information about the trip. Sakura scrolls the screen and read some previous messages as she waits for Chaeyeon's reply.

Chaeyeon: The grocery store is in the Taniyama Area, right? I cannot find any local transport that goes there directly. The nearest train stop will be almost 2km away.

Sakura: There is an airport bus that goes directly to the Oroshihomachi Center which is just 500m away.

A few minutes later...

Chaeyeon: I found it. It is route 1 Taniyama Line. But to travel by plane is too expensive. I can only afford to take the bus.

Sakura: The bus from Fukuoka will stop by the Kagoshima Airport, you can change the bus at the airport.

Chaeyeon: Brilliant! (Clap) You are really smart!

Sakura: I used to travel like that once.

Chaeyeon: It is so much easier for people to leave a community than to live in a community!

Sakura: ?

Chaeyeon: Oh, sorry. I just quoted my professor.

Sakura: No, you are right. I agree with you. (thumbs up)

Chaeyeon: (shy)

Chaeyeon: Oh is the Oroshihomachi a reclaimed land area?

Sakura: (shock) wow! How do you know? Yes, grandma told me our house used to be very near the seaside. 

Chaeyeon: (shy) I looked at the map. That's what I am trained to do. LOL

Sakura: icic.

Chaeyeon: Let me tell you more when we meet.

Chaeyeon finally bought a bus ticket for Friday morning. And the conversation died down after that. This time it takes a while before Chaeyeon replies the message. 

Chaeyeon: Bitter melon? It's fine for me. I am ok for almost any food; I only cannot eat sour >.<

WHAT? Sakura feels a bit shocked. Does that mean she will not like umeboshi! She types: sosad. I can make the tastiest umeboshi onigiri in the world.

Chaeyeon: (painful)

Fine. Sakura suddenly feels a bit disappointed. But who is she expecting? She is her guest, her customer; but she has no obligation to be her friend.

Message notification.

Chaeyeon: I will take the 05:35 bus tomorrow. I must sleep now. I will text you when I successfully change bus at Kagoshima Aiport.

Sakura types: ok, safe trip. see you tomorrow.

Chaeyeon: (sleepy)

Sakura did not sleep well during the night, which was quite unusual for her. It was already 10 am when she was woken up by grandma.

"Hey, Saa-chan, I am going to the coop now." Rino stands in front of Sakura's bed and makes sure she is awake. "Your alarm clock has been calling you for an hour. When is your guest arriving? I have made you some umeboshi onigiri, not sure if it suits your taste. Anyway, I will meet some friends in the coop and will be back late. You get up quickly and go meet your guest. Don't open the store if you don't want to. Bye-bye." Rino smirks and left.

Sakura soon hears the starting of the car and she is now left all alone.

Sakura turns on the phone and finds that Chaeyeon has sent her a list of messages.

Boarded the Sakurajima bus. 05:28

I am going to sleep for a while. 05:42

The airport is in sight. 09:27

Oops, nearly got off wrongly at Kagoshima Airport-Minami. 09:30

Off Kagoshima Airport. 09:38

Board the Taniyama bus. Yeah!!! 10:01

The phone clock shows it is 10:18am now. Sakura is wide awake. Lee Chaeyeon will be here within 45 minutes. She gets up immediately and “rushed” to the bathroom. When she looks into the mirror, she is shocked how messy her hair has become after a night of sleep, and there is no time for an extra shower.

Frustrated, Sakura gets into the clothes she has prepared last night, and ties her hair into a ponytail, put on a little makeup, pack her little bag and head to the shop floor. 

The physiotherapist has encouraged her to walk with only one crutch during the last session on Wednesday and she also believes this will make her look less vulnerable in front of her guest. In an extremely slow pace, she walks, the first time after 3 months, in a dignified posture, up the stairs in her home.

The guest will be here at any moment. Sakura kneels down on one knee carefully to open the roller shutter lock. She stands up, takes a deep breath and pulls the rope.

The morning sunlight gushed on her face and blinded her immediately. When she opened her eyes again, she saw a tall woman with shiny blond hair standing right across the street. It looked like she was coming along with the sun. 

**********************

Lee Chaeyeon hates morning, but somehow she had the urge to take a morning bus. She is leaving Fukuoka and flying back to Seoul next Tuesday, and today is already Friday. She must make the best out of the 3 nights and 4 days in Kagoshima. 

Everything started with that Airbnb post. Chaeyeon was planning a trip for her last 7 days in Japan. She loves heritage buildings and heritage sites, and staying in an "authentic" Machiya is something she has longed to experience, especially after taking courses on social infrastructure planning and social design in Fukuoka, she was so into the historic functions of Machiya.

Obviously, the internet algorithm knows well about her interests. So whenever someone lists a new Airbnb room that involves an old Japanese house or Machiya, she will get a notification. Usually, Machiya for rental was either too expensive or too commercial, but this one was different.

"Old Japanese Grocery Store 2/F near Shorinji Park with free parking"  ¥2000 per night.

Daebak! Chaeyeon cried out in her head. She has never dreamt of such a chance. She quickly looked into the details and was surprised that this Machiya seems to be still functioning and inhabited by real people. It was in Kagoshima which was not far away from Fukuoka. She quickly booked 3 nights. That's the maximum time she could stay.

And the owner was nice. They quickly became friends. Miyawaki-san added her LINE, and they had good chats. Miyawaki did not post any picture on Airbnb nor her LINE account. But Chaeyeon just knew that it's a she, probably around her age, maybe a bit older, living with her grandmother and running the grocery store. She hurt her leg recently so she has to walk on crutches.

Maybe