the final supper

haruka, ichiko, april, ricks

Every trip’s final supper always seems to be pervaded with a sort of sentimental atmosphere, and this time it was no different. Sweet Ichiko came bearing little farewell gifts that reflected her tender, thoughtful character – lipwax for April “in case of parched lips during the flight” and a jar of organic honey for Ricks “to soothe his sore throat”. Over mouthfuls of delicious steak and baked potatoes there seemed to be endless things to talk about.

The time spent with haruka and ichiko was like sand falling through fingers – before we knew it and we found ourselves again at the very same junction where we would part every year after bear hugs and wishes of bon voyage.

photo by haruka

Here we are year after year, standing under the same street lamps that emit the same familiar glow because we pass them by every night. Tonight they shone a little differently, because of how they lit up the tears in Ichiko’s eyes. haruka took this final shot with humorous photographer-like prompts as if to hearten the heavy hearts… and we parted. We stood and watched them walk away. Ichiko turned around with every few steps, waving byebye. In the darkness, their silhouettes grew smaller and smaller till we could see them no more, almost like a flipbook. I committed this precious image to memory.

→ Ichiko Aoba
→ haruka nakamura