My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

The word “Yakitori” refers to skewered and grilled chicken.

Initially, before the widespread popularity of meat chickens in Japan, the primary purpose of chickens was for egg-laying. Once they reached a point where they could no longer lay eggs, the quality of their meat deteriorated significantly. As a result, the price of chicken became relatively cheap, making it a preferred option for improving meals during times of economic difficulty. During Japan’s economic recovery period, chicken and animal offal were skewered and grilled, becoming the best accompaniment for industrial workers after work hours.

Over time, this style of dining became more common, and the variety expanded, similar to how Chinese barbecue stalls evolved. Initially, they would only grill lamb skewers, but now they grill almost anything that can be eaten, including pork, beef, seafood, vegetables, and even internal organs. The situation in Japan is quite similar. It started with simple chicken skewers and has now become a wide range of options, including even desserts, cakes, and fruits, all skewered on sticks due to the increasing number of female customers following the trend of female independence.

Yoko seemed a little deprived of meat, which made Kitahara Hideji couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. He picked up a tissue and gently wiped the oil stain from the corner of her mouth, making Yoko blush with embarrassment, her whole face turning red.

“Is it delicious?” Kitahara Hideji smiled and asked softly. He was much older than Yoko, at least ten years older in the previous life. After getting to know her a bit, he felt like taking care of a child.

Yoko nodded vigorously and smiled sweetly, “It’s delicious!” She paused for a moment and added gently, “It’s my first time trying it, and I didn’t expect it to taste this good.” She was a little worried about leaving an impression of being greedy in Kitahara Hideji’s eyes.

Kitahara Hideji smiled indulgently, “Then eat more.”

Yoko looked at Kitahara Hideji’s smile and was momentarily dazed. Her nose felt a little sour, but she quickly raised her head and continued to smile sweetly. She handed a skewer of onion-flavored chicken to Kitahara Hideji, saying, “Onii-san, you should have some too!”

Kitahara Hideji took a bite of the golden-brown, oil-dripping grilled chicken and found it quite delicious. The texture was both crispy and tender, not melting in his mouth but still satisfying. After eating one skewer, he noticed that Ono Yoko seemed to enjoy it, so he refrained from eating the rest and pushed the soy sauce and seasoning towards her, gesturing for her to dip her skewers in them. He then picked up several large oysters and placed them on the grill. As Nagoya was a famous port city in Japan, seafood products were relatively cheap, with four oysters costing only three hundred yen. It made him, who originally came from an inland province, feel like it was an excellent deal.

As he carefully adjusted the charcoal fire, he felt something nibbling on his shoes. Lowering his head, he met the flattering face of Hyakujirou, the dog. He scolded the dog playfully and then grilled two large pork bones. He didn’t directly give them to the dog, as he wasn’t affluent enough to feed a pet dog with meat. Instead, he would let the dog gnaw on the bones later.

Ono Yoko seemed to rarely have the opportunity to indulge in eating just meat. She ate several skewers in one breath before finally pausing. Kitahara Hideji opened a small plate of fresh green peppers and stuffed the chicken into them, then handed it to her, smiling, “You should also eat some vegetables, Yoko.”

Looking at her pale face, he thought that she probably didn’t get enough nutrition from just one subsidized meal at noon. Just looking at her made him feel sorry for her.

Ono Yoko obediently took it and took a gentle bite. Her eyes immediately lit up with happiness. “It’s crunchy and a bit spicy, but the chicken has become sweet,” she said.

Kitahara Hideji took a sip of barley tea and picked one for himself as well. Recently, Japanese people had taken a liking to eating raw vegetables, probably influenced by Americans! Japan was currently caught between two superpowers, the United States and China, and various aspects of society were swinging back and forth. Even their cuisine had become a mix of both, not entirely Japanese nor fully Western, causing their traditional dishes to lose some authenticity.

The two of them were in no rush and leisurely enjoyed their meal. Neither of them brought up the topic of Ono Yoko’s mother, just casually chatting about some interesting things. Kitahara Hideji even told her about how he repaired Fukuzawa Fuyumi’s belongings, and Ono Yoko listened with a smile, occasionally adding a few words, making the conversation feel comfortable. After eating for a while, Ono Yoko took over the grilling duties with great interest, skillfully handling the skewers and even giving the leftover bones to Hyakujirou under the table. The dog was overjoyed, licking and gnawing, probably having a rare feast in its dog life.

Kitahara Hideji looked at Ono Yoko, who was concentrating on grilling with a smile, and then glanced around at the various people enjoying drinks and conversation. He felt that this short month had been like a dream, causing him to drift off into his thoughts…

What would he be like in ten years?

Has he already bid a permanent farewell to this place?

Amidst the glittering lights and flowing wine, is he adorned in fine attire, spending money lavishly? Or has he become a scholar with no worries about livelihood? Perhaps he’s just starting a business, toiling hard in his endeavors? In more optimistic terms, he might have achieved success, able to dictate the course of life and death with every word and action?

He truly wished time could flow faster, so he could arrive at that point ten years later…

But soon, Kitahara Hideji chuckled and fell silent. The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago, followed by now. If he doesn’t put in effort at the present and endure the pains of ten years, he will likely still be empty-handed after a decade. What is there to look forward to in that case?

“Onii-san, what are you laughing about?” Ono Yoko delicately picked out the meat from the shell and dipped it in the sauce before offering it to Kitahara Hideji, her curiosity piqued.

“I’m thinking about what kind of person I’ll become in the future.”

“Eh, what kind of person does Onii-san want to become in the future?”

Kitahara Hideji carefully chose his words and slowly replied, “I want to become a free person, not swayed by others or money. I want to do things I’m passionate about and achieve something great, so I won’t have regrets or waste my time before I pass away. I want to be able to close my eyes without any regrets.”

The three peaks of life: wielding power, being wealthy, and leaving a legacy in history. He didn’t consider himself too greedy. When he reaches the crossroads of life in the future, he plans to see the situation and choose a direction to strive for – aiming high. He may not be able to achieve it, but he can work towards it for the rest of his life!

It was a bit hard to understand and not very suitable for a primary school student to comprehend, so he explained it differently. However, Ono Yoko still didn’t quite grasp it and looked puzzled, “A free person? Not swayed?”

Kitahara Hideji laughed heartily, “It means becoming someone important, dedicated to doing something I’m interested in and doing it exceptionally well, so much so that others look up to me with admiration. Before I die, I’ll be able to boast about how amazing I am!”

Ono Yoko blinked, then chuckled while covering her mouth, “That sounds really great, Onii-san.”

Kitahara Hideji smiled and asked, “What about you, Yoko? Have you thought about what kind of person you want to become in the future?”

Ono Yoko lowered her head, pondering for a moment, and replied with some confusion, “No, Onii-san, I haven’t thought about these things…”

Kitahara Hideji ruffled her little head and said with a smile, “Take your time, no need to rush. You’re still young! But it’s good to start thinking about it early. People need goals to strive for! Those who are lost will only stay in the same place, and time won’t wait for them.”

Ono Yoko nodded obediently and asked in a soft voice, “Onii-san, you don’t go out to play every day. Instead, you stay at home studying. Are you working hard to become the person you want to be in the future?”

“That’s right. If I don’t work hard today, my dreams will be crushed by the cruel reality tomorrow. I don’t want to end up full of regrets and grow old slowly. That’s why I plan to strive hard in the next three years to get into a world-renowned university. Learning is one aspect, but more importantly, I want to meet talented people for the future…”

Ono Yoko propped her chin up, quietly tending to the charcoal fire, and listened attentively to Kitahara Hideji’s plans for the future. Though he spoke with a gentle tone, his conviction was unwavering, and his eyes sparkled with determination under the lamplight, exuding a positive and vibrant spirit. Ono Yoko couldn’t help but be captivated by him.

The future, huh? Onii-chan seems only a few years older than me, yet he already has clear plans for the future. What about myself?

Where is my future heading?