* Disclaimer: All characters are of legal age of 18 and over*
The premise
Elizabeth pulled back the curtain and looked out of the hotel window. Outside, the busy life of Tokyo flickered with the multitude of night lights. She turned back and looked at her son, Adam, who was laying in bed and watching television.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" she asked him.
Adam shrugged without looking at her.
"We've already visited everything on our list -- Osaka, Kyoto, and now Tokyo," listed out Elizabeth. She crossed the room and sat down on a low stool. "Tea gardens, zen temples, museums, restaurants. It has been a busy two weeks."
Adam nodded his agreement, his eyes glued to the television set.
"Two weeks and we still haven't seen anything weird," concluded Elizabeth.
Adam turned his head. "Are you still on that page?"
"Yes! I want to see the weird side of Japan that I've heard so much about."
Adam rolled his eyes. "We've already been to several porn stores. And, you dragged me to that sex cartoon theater."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"Well, it was pretty weird," mumbled Adam under his breath. Louder, he said: "What do you want to see? Tentacle porn? Or those shows where they eat poop and other nasty things?"
Elizabeth did not reply.
"I bet it's all just rumors," said Adam flipping the channel with the remote. "Something people made up about Japan."
"What about those videos on the internet?"
Adam shrugged.
Elizabeth sighed and wistfully looked towards the window. "The old man at the hentai theater said something about a place in Takasaki. What did he call it?" Elizabeth's forehead wrinkled as she tried to remember.
"Kinshinsokan Monogatari," said Adam at length.
"That's right! What does it mean?"
Adam shrugged again.
"He said it was the kind of place we've been looking for."
"I'm not really looking for anything, mom."
"Don't be such a downer!" growled Elizabeth. "You wanted to come to Japan for your big birthday. It wasn't cheap, you know. Who knows if we'll ever come to Japan again. If we're here already, we might as well see everything we can. Right?"
"I guess," replied Adam.
Elizabeth smiled. "I'll get us tickets to Takasaki in the morning. It's only about an hour and a half away."
The search
"Did you see how she looked at me?" Elizabeth asked Adam as they walked out of a magazine shop.
"Mom, I don't think it's a good idea to be asking random people about this place."
"Who else would I ask? The concierge at the hotel wasn't any help, and I didn't find anything about it on the internet."
"Maybe the old man lied. Maybe this place doesn't exist."
"No, it's here. I know it. Why else would she look at me like that?"
"Maybe we should ask someone more appropriate?"
"Like who?"
"Like someone in there." Adam pointed towards a store decorated with posters of scantily clad schoolgirls.
By now, Elizabeth and Adam have been to several adult themed stores in Japan; not to mention a sex museum and a hentai theater. Thus, without another thought Elizabeth led the way into the porn store.
Inside, several men were quietly browsing along neatly organized isles. Nobody seemed to pay them any attention.
"Ask the guy at the counter," whispered Elizabeth and nudged Adam forward.
"Why me?" asked Adam, astonished.
"Because I asked the last person."
"Mom!" Adam fumed, but walked toward the counter nevertheless.
The man at the counter was flipping through a magazine. Adam cleared his throat to get the man's attention, but with little success.
"Shitsureishimashita," Adam managed.
The man at the counter looked up at him. "American?" he asked.
Adam nodded.
"How can I help?" asked the store clerk with a thick accent.
Adam sighed in relief. He understood Japanese, but speaking it was difficult for him. "I was wondering if you know where I can find a place called Kinshinsokan Monogatari? I was told it was somewhere here in Takasaki."
The clerk furrowed his brow. "No," he said and went back to reading his magazine.
Adam took a step back, then another.
"What did he say?" asked Elizabeth, suddenly appearing from behind.
"Nothing. He said that he didn't know."
"Are you sure? Maybe you should ask him again."
"This is pointless, mom. I'm hungry. Can we go find a restaurant?"
"Fine," said Elizabeth. "I'm hungry too."
"Good restaurant," suddenly said the porn store clerk, appearing next to them. He handed Adam a paper flier and looked curiously at Elizabeth. "Good food. You like."
"O-kay," said Elizabeth slowly. "Thank you."
They walked out of the porn store and onto the street. It was pretty quiet at this time of day, with only a few people walking by.
"It's just a few blocks away," said Adam reading the restaurant flier. "Want to try it?"
Elizabeth shrugged. "Sure. Locals usually know where to eat. Though, I don't know about that guy. He was kind of creepy."
They arrived at the restaurant ten minutes later. It was clean and inviting inside, but completely empty. Before they could turn around and walk out, a cheery old woman appeared out of the back room and led them to a table.
"Are you open?" asked Adam, looking around.
"Yes, yes," replied the old woman, bowing politely. She handed them a couple of menus and poured them some tea.
"Yeh! It's all in Japanese," said Elizabeth tossing the menu to the side. "Order something for me."
Adam's lips moved as he read over each Japanese character.
A few minutes later, Elizabeth heard her stomach growl. "Well? Did you pick something yet?" she asked impatiently.
"Not yet," mumbled Adam.
At that moment, a door to the restaurant opened and an older gentleman, dressed in a nice suit, walked in. He smiled when he noticed Elizabeth and Adam sitting at one of the tables.
"Ah, customers," he said happily. His freshly shined shoes glistened as he took several long strides towards their table.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance in choosing your lunch." He spoke English with a nearly undetectable accent.
"You sure can," replied Elizabeth. The pleasantness of his appearance made her take an immediate liking to him.
"If you don't mind, let me order for you. I guarantee you won't regret it."
Adam looked up from the menu and frowned up at the stranger.
"Pardon my manners," said the man. "My name is Shigeo. I own several establishments, such as this one, around Takasaki. I'm always happy to see new people visiting our humble city, and I'm always happy to help."
"Okay," nodded Adam. "You know what's good to eat here better than me."
The man gave two claps and the old woman reappeared from the kitchen room. He spoke a few quick sentences to the woman. She bowed and shuffled away.
"How are you enjoying Takasaki so far?" asked Shigeo.
"We just got here in the morning," replied Elizabeth. "We got a hotel a few streets down. Haven't really looked around yet." Elizabeth pointed to a seat next to her. "Please, join us."
Shigeo bowed and lowered himself at their table.
"You absolutely have to visit our temples, and Lake Haruna is beautiful in the evening," said Shigeo.
The old woman came out of the back and brought out a few small dishes.
"Eat," gently instructed Shigeo. He poured himself a cup of tea, while they sampled the food.
"I don't know what this is, but it's good," said Elizabeth while chewing.
Shigeo smiled. "Where are you from?" he asked after taking a sip of the tea.
"California," replied Elizabeth after she swallowed.
"Ah, the Golden State," said Shigeo.
"Have you been?"
"No, but I've been to New York a few times on business."
"My name is Elizabeth, by the way."
"It's a pleasure, Elizabeth. And this young man? Is he your husband?"