2. Omakase (Tokyo Stories)
The young man in the suit stood before her, a soft smile on his face. In his hand, he held a small box stamped with her company’s logo.
“Paige-san?” he asked, offering the box to her.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“From your office,” he said in accented English, gesturing to the logo on the box.
She thanked him with a polite bow, mirroring the dip he’d given her.
Closing the door, Paige ripped the matte tape from the box and pulled out an ivory card. It was a dinner invitation from the agency director. She’d made a reservation for the following evening at a soba restaurant near the office.
A small grin crossed Paige’s lips. Her new life was starting to take shape with this simple piece of paper.
Paige placed the invitation on the dining table and took one last look around her apartment. Now, it was time to explore.
—
Stepping into the street brought chaos to her senses. Flashing advertisements, taxi horns, the scents of fried food wafting out of izakayas. The buildings seemed to compete for attention, a fusion of historical and modern — traditional wooden structures shoulder to shoulder with looming glass facades.
Paige walked by a group of young Japanese women, chatting animatedly. They were dressed in outfits that suggested a special occasion, and seemed to share a close bond, evident in their comfort and intimate interactions. The sight of them transported Paige back to the marketing agency’s headquarters.
The bond with her close-knit team — Emma, Lydia, and Ava — had been developed through late night brainstorming sessions and banter filled coffee breaks. They were the friends she called after failed client meetings, bad Hinge dates, and challenging visits with her mother. Watching this group of women, Paige felt a pang of longing and nostalgia for the girls back home.
While Paige had started at the agency as a junior content strategist alongside Emma, Lydia, and Ava, she’d quickly risen in the company. With a dual degree in international business, she understood global markets and could craft campaigns that resonated across cultures. At just 29 Paige had been promoted to Global Marketing Strategist at the international agency. The Tokyo branch had initiated the transfer, hoping that her fresh perspective would give their local campaigns an edge.
Paige snapped a photo for her group chat with the girls as she wandered onto an old shopping street. Lined with small stores and eateries, its rich smells of simmering broths and grilled meats hung in the air. A yakitori stall caught her eye — skewers of tender chicken and vegetables sizzling over hot coals. Next to it, a chef flipped deep fried octopus, golden and crisp, at a takoyaki stand.
Drawn to a sushi stall, Paige watched its chef consumed in his craft. His movements were like poetry, a dance of precision. Taking a seat at the counter, she signaled for an omakase — chef’s choice.
The melting flavors of each piece absorbed her — the silky texture of fatty tuna, the gentle tang of rice, the sharpness of wasabi. The authenticity of the experience made her feel connected to Tokyo in a way she hadn’t anticipated on this first night.
Using hand gestures and Google translate, Paige paid her bill, then continued wandering the streets in search of dessert. She passed a traditional tea house, the soft clinking of ceramic cups drawing her closer. ‘Perhaps another time,’ she thought, making a mental note.
As she turned a corner and found herself in a narrow alley, the neon lights became a distant glow. Feeling uneasy, Paige turned around to return to the well-lit street — but from the shadows, she heard a soft whisper call her name, a familiar voice.
Paige strained her eyes to see who it belonged to, but all she could make out was the silhouette of a male figure. With a sharp inhale, she took a step forward…
To be continued.
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