'Sensei, here,' I said, holding out the package, which was now wrinkled from being carried around for a while.
'What is it?' Sensei took the parcel, placing his briefcase on the ground and carefully unwrapping it. The small grater emerged. It glimmered in the pale light that shone through the shop curtain. It gleamed even more brightly than it had in the shop in Kappabashi.
'It's a grater, isn't it?'
'That's right.'
'Is it for me?'
'Of course.'
It was a brusque exchange. Which was just like our usual conversation. I looked up at the sky and scratched the top of my head. Sensei carefully rewrapped the grater and put it in his briefcase, then straightened up and started walking.
I counted stars as I walked. I counted them, looking up at the sky and trailing behind Sensei.


H.Kawakami