After the seminar
This is the plain transcript. Open the interactive version → furigana, audio, word-by-word gloss, grammar notes, and take over a role by typing.The sliding door opens to a warm, quiet okonomiyaki shop. The rich aroma of savory sauce fills the air.
お、木原さん。いらっしゃい。
Oh, Kihara-san. Welcome.
どうも。今日は四人なんだけど、いつもの奥、いける？
Hi. Four of us today, can we use the usual spot in the back?
どうぞどうぞ、空いてますよ。靴、そこの棚に入れちゃってください。
Go right ahead, it's open. Just put your shoes in the rack there.
They take off their shoes and step up to the raised tatami area with teppan tables. Aki motions Nobu to the inner seat.
先生、奥へどうぞ。荷物、その籠に入れて大丈夫ですから。
Professor, please take the back seat. It's fine to put your things in that basket.
悪いね。みんなも適当に座って。
Thanks. You all sit wherever you like, too.
…はい。失礼します。
...Yes. Excuse me.
はい、おしぼりね。決まったら声かけて。
Here are the wet towels. Let me know when you've decided.
The group gets settled at the teppan table. The Master is ready for their order.
とりあえずビールでいいですか？ 駿くんはウーロン茶？
Shall we start with beer? Shun, oolong tea for you?
うん、僕はビール。マスター、生三つとウーロン茶ね。
Yeah, beer for me. Master, three draft beers and an oolong.
あ、ありがとうございます……。
Ah, thank you...
それと豚玉二つにミックス一つ、焼きそばも一枚焼いといて。
Also, two butatama, one mix, and put a yakisoba on to grill, too.
はいよ。生三つ、ウーロン茶、豚玉二つにミックス、焼きそばね。
Got it. Three drafts, an oolong, two butatama, one mix, and yakisoba.
The drinks arrive, and the okonomiyaki begins to sizzle on the teppan plate.
そういえば、火曜のゼミの枠、ゼミ長が時間変えたいって言ってましたよ。
By the way, regarding the Tuesday seminar slot, Zemi-cho said he wants to change the time.
あの人の気まぐれは今に始まったことじゃないからね。来週の仙台も急に行かないって言い出したりして。
His whims are nothing new. He might suddenly announce he's skipping Sendai next week, too.
あ、僕、仙台は今回パスします。ちょっとやることがあって。
Ah, I'm actually skipping Sendai this time. I have a few things to take care of.
いいよ、無理していく必要はないから。僕も昔、自信満々で出した論文がボロクソに蹴られて、仙台の学会サボったことあるし。
It's fine, no need to force yourself. Back in the day, a paper I submitted with total confidence got utterly trashed, and I skipped the Sendai conference myself.
先生でも……そういうこと、あるんですか。
Even you, Professor... had things like that happen?
しょっちゅうだよ。特に若い頃は二回連続で落とされて、本気で向いてないと思ったな。
All the time. When I was young, I got rejected twice in a row and seriously thought I wasn't cut out for this.
へえ、先生でもそんな時期があったんですね。
Wow, even you went through a phase like that, Professor.
まあ、査読なんてタイミングもあるからね。たまたま気難しい審査員に当たっただけかもしれないし。
Well, peer reviews depend a lot on timing. You might have just happened to hit a difficult reviewer.
お、そろそろひっくり返していいよ。
Oh, you guys can flip those over now.
そうそう。だから、駿のあれも次どう出すかだな。週明けにでも、修正の方向性、一度すり合わせよう。
Exactly. So, for your paper, Shun, it's just a matter of how we submit it next. Sometime early next week, let's sit down and align on the direction for the revisions.
あ……はい。火曜の午前中とか、お時間ありますか。
Ah... yes. Do you have some time on Tuesday morning?
空いてるよ。じゃあ午前十時に部屋に来て。
I'm free. Come to my office at ten AM, then.
よし、じゃあ焼きそば、もう食べていいですよね？
Alright, so we can eat the yakisoba now, right?
どうぞ。冷めないうちに食べなさい。
Go ahead. Eat it while it's hot.
やった！ 駿くん、お皿出して、分けるね。
Awesome! Shun, pass your plate, I'll plate some for you.
The grill is turned off, leaving only empty plates. Nobu stands up, slipping his wallet into his pocket.
ちょっと失礼。
Excuse me for a moment.
あ、お手洗いですか？ …って、財布持って行っちゃいましたね。
Ah, the restroom? ...Wait, he went and took his wallet with him.
Nobu returns from the register a moment later, gesturing toward the door.
よし、お会計は済んだから、行こうか。
Alright, the bill is taken care of, so shall we head out?
えっ、本当ですか？ すみません、いつもごちそうになってばかりで…
Eh, really? Thank you, you're always treating us...
いいんだよ。外、ちょっと冷えてきたな。
It's fine. It's gotten a bit chilly outside, hasn't it?
They step out of the restaurant onto the quiet street under the night air.
…ごちそうさまでした。あの…また頑張ります
...Thank you for the meal. Um... I will do my best again.
焦らずな。
Don't rush.
はい。じゃあ先生、駅までお送りしますね。
Yes. Well, Professor, we'll walk you to the station.