Racing through Kyoto Station, Tatsuya must keep a melting kakigori alive long enough to reach his mother in Osaka.
JLPT N2 stories use the register you find in newspapers, magazines, and literature — nuance, implied meaning, full keigo, and the grammar patterns that show up in real Japanese writing.
夏の昼下がり、京都駅のコンコースは人で溢れていました。アナウンスの声が響き、スーツケースの車輪が床を転がる音があちこちから聞こえます。そんな雑踏の中を、濃紺のスーツを着た男が走っていました。タツヤです。
On a summer afternoon, Kyoto Station's main concourse was overflowing with people. Announcement voices echoed, and the sound of suitcase wheels rolling across the floor could be heard from every direction. Through that bustle, a man in a dark navy suit was running. It was Tatsuya.
タツヤの右手にはブリーフケース、左手には白い紙袋がぶら下がっていました。袋の中には、錦市場の近くの店で買ったばかりの抹茶かき氷が入っています。母親への手土産です。大阪の実家まで、なんとか溶けずに持って帰りたいと思っていました。
In Tatsuya's right hand was a briefcase, and from his left hand hung a white paper bag. Inside the bag was a matcha kakigori he had just bought from a shop near Nishiki Market. It was a gift for his mother. He wanted to somehow bring it back to the family home in Osaka without it melting.
店を出たとたん、タツヤは気づきました。保冷剤が一つしか入っていないことに。夏の京都の暑さは想像以上で、すでに袋の底が少し濡れています。次の新快速まで二十分。急がなければなりません。
The moment he stepped out of the shop, Tatsuya realized it. There was only one ice pack inside. The summer heat of Kyoto was beyond what he had imagined, and the bottom of the bag was already a little wet. Twenty minutes until the next Shin-kaisoku. He had to hurry.
コンコースに入るついでに、タツヤは近くのキオスクに立ち寄りました。保冷剤か氷が買えないか、と思ったのです。しかし棚を見ると、保冷グッズはすでに売り切れていました。夏場はすぐなくなるのでしょう。
While entering the concourse, Tatsuya stopped by a nearby kiosk. He thought he might be able to buy an ice pack or some ice. But when he looked at the shelf, the cooling goods were already sold out. They must disappear quickly in summer.
次のキオスクも同じでした。その次も。三軒回った上で、タツヤはため息をつきました。袋を持つ手がひんやりしていたのに、今はもうそれほど冷たくありません。時間も氷も、どんどん消えていきます。
The next kiosk was the same. And the one after that. After going to three shops, Tatsuya let out a sigh. The hand holding the bag had felt cold before, but now it was no longer that cold. Both time and ice were disappearing, little by little.
タツヤはしばらく立ち止まって考えました。コンビニなら氷があるかもしれない。駅の外に出れば時間がかかりすぎる。構内のどこかにあるはずだ、と思い、また歩き始めました。
Tatsuya stopped for a moment and thought. A convenience store might have ice. Going outside the station would take too much time. Thinking there must be some somewhere inside the station, he began walking again.
そのとき、駅員の制服を着た若い男性が近くを通りました。タツヤはつい声をかけてしまいました。「すみません、構内で氷を売っている場所はありますか」
Just then, a young man in a station worker's uniform passed nearby. Tatsuya found himself calling out before he could think. "Excuse me, is there a place inside the station that sells ice?"
駅員は少し考えた上で、「構内の売店では難しいかもしれません。少しお待ちいただけますか」と言いました。そして足早にどこかへ去っていきました。タツヤは不安な気持ちで袋を見つめました。底の濡れた部分が広がっています。
After thinking for a moment, the station worker said, "It might be difficult at the shops inside the station. Could you wait a little?" And then he walked away quickly somewhere. Tatsuya stared at the bag with an uneasy feeling. The wet patch on the bottom was spreading.
タツヤはしばらくその場で待ちました。一分、二分と過ぎていきます。発車時刻まで、もう十分しかありません。つい足踏みしながら、何度も時計を見てしまいました。
Tatsuya waited there for a while. One minute passed, then two. There were only ten minutes left until departure. He found himself unintentionally shifting his weight from foot to foot, checking his watch again and again.
五分が経った頃、先ほどの駅員が戻ってきました。手に小さなビニール袋を持っています。「スタッフルームにあった砕氷です。少量ですが、よろしければ」と言いながら、タツヤに差し出しました。
When about five minutes had passed, the station worker from before came back. He was holding a small plastic bag in his hand. Saying, "This is crushed ice from the staff room. It is only a little, but please, if you would like," he held it out to Tatsuya.
タツヤは思わず「ありがとうございます」と声に出していました。つい頭まで下げてしまいます。駅員は「お母様に喜んでいただけるといいですね」と微笑みました。タツヤは驚きました。先ほど、母への手土産だと話していたのを覚えていてくれたのです。
Before he knew it, Tatsuya had said aloud, "Thank you so much." He found himself unintentionally bowing his head deeply too. The station worker smiled and said, "I hope your mother will be pleased." Tatsuya was surprised. The worker had remembered that he had mentioned it was a gift for his mother earlier.
タツヤは急いで白い紙袋を開け、砕氷をかき氷の容器の周りに詰めました。冷たさが手に伝わってきます。袋の底の濡れは止まりませんが、これで少しは持つはずです。発車まであと五分。
Tatsuya quickly opened the white paper bag and packed the crushed ice around the kakigori container. The coldness transferred to his hands. The wetness at the bottom of the bag did not stop, but this should keep it for a little while. Five minutes until departure.
ホームへ向かう上で、タツヤは改めて駅員に礼を言いました。「本当に助かりました」。駅員は「気をつけて」と答えました。タツヤは階段を駆け上がりました。
As he headed toward the platform, Tatsuya thanked the station worker once more. "You truly saved me." The station worker replied, "Please take care." Tatsuya ran up the stairs.
ホームに着いたとたん、新快速の扉が開くアナウンスが流れました。タツヤは列の最後尾に滑り込み、ついに乗車できました。扉が閉まる直前、ホームを振り返ると、あの駅員が手を振っていました。
The moment he arrived at the platform, an announcement played saying the Shin-kaisoku's doors were opening. Tatsuya slipped into the back of the line, and finally managed to board. Just before the doors closed, he looked back at the platform, and that station worker was waving.
座席に腰を下ろしたタツヤは、膝の上に白い袋をそっと置きました。冷たさはまだ残っています。窓の外を京都の街並みが流れていきます。大阪まで、もう少しです。
Tatsuya sat down in his seat and gently placed the white bag on his lap. The coldness was still there. Outside the window, the Kyoto cityscape flowed past. Osaka was not far now.
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