llet:Hokutoplayingwithsheepatthezoo;Hokutdressclothesfortheautumnchildren’sShichigosaival;Hokutoridingarocketattheplayground.Ilookedateachpicturethreetimes,oeranother,beforereturniohim.Ipickedupmybeerandgrabbedsomeicy“ruibe”,aHokkaidodelicacy.

    “Bytheway,howisPdoing?”Heaskedme.

    “Prettygood,”Ianswered.“JusttheotherdayIbumpedintohimoreet.Hegotdivordisnowlivingwithayoungwoman.”

    “WhataboutQ?”

    “He’swforanadagency,writingsomejustterriblecopy.”

    “Thatdoesn’tsurpriseme..”

    Etc.Etc.

    Wepaidforthechedlefttherestaurant.Ithadstartedtorainagain.

    “Say,haveyoureturoKoberetly?”Iasked.

    “Nope,”shakinghishead.“It’sjusttoofaraway.Howaboutyou?”

    “Meher.Idon’treallyhavemuchdesiretogoback.”

    “Yeah.”

    “Iimagiheneighborhoodhasreallygedovertheyears.”

    WewalkedaroureetsofSapporoforonlytenmoreminutes,quicklyrunningoutofthingstotalkabout.Ireturomyhotelabacktohissmallapartment.

    “Doraakecareofyourself.”

    “Youtoo.”

    Suddenlythethudofavertermademerealizethattomorroillagainbeseparatedbyover500kilometers.Inafewdayswewillagainbewalkingondifferentstreets.Wewillreturntoourrespectivebroutines.Wewilltiheaimlessuphillstruggleasmembersoftheratrace.

    BamyhotelroomIturheTVandstartedtowatchalocalpublicservice-program.Climbingohwithouttakingmyshoesoff,Iattackedmysmokedsalmonsandwidbeerfromroom-service,absent-mindedlygazingatthes.

    Ayoungwomanwearingadarkbluedresswasstandingalohemiddleofthes.Thecamerafocusedon