Track 1: HAMA Night Harbour

After closing time: ordering the flowers for tomorrow, checking stock, cleaning the store, and preparing flowers to give to Shunin.  Only after I check off my daily tasks do I take a breather.

I go to the storefront while drinking the tea Sonia gave me. Stretching my legs, I enjoy the night breeze as I push my beloved bike inside.

It’s a large bike that weighs 150 kilos with an engine displacement of 499cc. It’s really heavy. To be honest, it takes back-breaking effort to push it even a short distance. Just putting it back where it belongs has my back covered in sweat.

I saved up little by little for this bike, which I use for my deliveries too. It’s my second beloved ride. The first one I’d gotten from my senior at work was unfortunately on its last legs, so I had to get a new one with tears in my eyes.

That said, this is a replica of a 1999 model, so even though it's been overhauled to fit modern exhaust regulations, it still needs regular maintenance before it starts feeling unwell and shows complications, or straight up breaks down.

However, sometimes, while listening to the radio Sonia turns on for me. On sunny days, while tending to the store. On cold days, while drinking hot coffee.

Polishing the sleek black body of the bike, gold lines along its frame. Lubricating its parts. Cleaning the chains.

I love the time I can spend taking care of my bike.  You could even say it’s one of the few hobbies I have.

Thank you for doing your best to take me places, and helping me with my work. Maybe I feel like it can sense my gratitude when I take care of it.

Wearing a special apron to protect against oil stains, Sonia helps me with the maintenance.

As though to signal the coming of night, quiet music from the radio and metallic clinks fill the air.

According to the weather forecast, tomorrow would be sunny with the occasional clouds. The commercial breaks air ads for famous restaurants in HAMA.

And then—

Sonia exclaims.

I instinctively look at the clock—and sure enough, it’s the moment we have been waiting for.

Sonia turns up the volume on the radio.

Slightly nervous, I mentally prepare myself.

As light music plays alongside the radio host’s smooth, witty voice, I find myself sitting up straighter without thinking. Sonia’s round eyes dart this way and that as she flits playfully around me.

—Finally, it’s starting.

HAMA Night Harbour. My favourite radio show that airs late at night every Friday. Besides casual conversation from the radio host, R’lyeh¹ Teraie-san, the show features lots of interactive segments with listeners. It's hilarious and really entertaining overall.

At first, I was just a listener. But I wanted to say something funny myself and make everyone laugh... With that challenge in mind, I submitted a joke for the first time. After hearing it read out loud—and on top of that, even making Teraie-san laugh—I’ve been regularly sending in material ever since.

When I come up with ideas for new material, I save the scrap paper from the flower shop and jot them down by hand. I carefully refine my drafts, and once they’re ready, I submit them using my phone.

Even if I’d submitted 50, only one joke gets read per person to be fair, but I don’t mind. The act of submitting jokes itself is fun, so sending in so many is not a problem at all. It's not an exaggeration to say that I have an infinite supply of material.

In particular, since I became a Ward Mayor and started working with HAMA Tours, I’ve been coming up with more and more ideas. That’s probably because I’ve been spending more time around people who let their personality shine so brilliantly.

This is the segment I usually submit to. It’s commonly known as PunchLine. It’s a segment where you submit short skits with boke and tsukkomi-style back-and-forth, like in manzai.

For example, this is a joke that was featured before:

—Well, something along those lines. There's no set format, so you’re free to combine boke and tsukkomi however you like.

Anyway, whoever makes Teraie-san laugh, wins. It’s simple, but that’s what gets you hooked. It’s a hugely popular segment among listeners, with an overwhelming number of submissions.

While chatting like this, we hold our breath, intently listening to the show.

That was funny. Such a fresh, innocent bit that made me chuckle without meaning to. Somehow, hearing that boke’s line playing back in my head as Akuta’s voice makes me feel even more warmly amused. Teraie-san’s laughing too. He seems genuinely pleased with the talented newcomer… I’ve got to step up my game as well.

Half nervous excitement, half pure enjoyment. That’s how Friday nights always feel.

The sharp, witty bits keep coming one after another—

Sonia and I high-five.

Hearing Teraie-san burst into loud laughter with a ‘buhaha’, I feel my face flush with excitement. I’ve been picked for the closing slot a few times before, but it still makes me unbelievably happy.

Yes, it’s a true story. As I listen to Teraie-san read it aloud, my thoughts drift back to that day.

The fire incident. The flustered face of a colleague. We tried to evacuate in a hurry too, but because the movie was so popular and the place was packed, we got swept up in the crowd, and before I realised it, we’d gotten separated.

While I was wandering around looking for my colleague, right at that moment, I got a message from him saying ‘Where are you?’. And so that’s how it happened: there were lots of seagulls right in front of the sea, so I sent a photo, but… he gave a tsukkomi-like response like, ‘The seagull was cute… no, that’s not it!’ and also, ‘At times like this, you’re supposed to send photos of buildings or other things that don’t move! I’m just repeating what a friend told me though…’

Teraie-san’s laughter rings throughout the space. Sonia laughs, and so do I.

—This is what my Friday nights are usually like.

The cheerful music signals the end of the show. Still riding that high, I finish my bike’s maintenance with no incident.

Wishing Sonia a good night, I push the bike out of the store.

The residential area has already quieted down. On the night road, only a scattering of pedestrians and cyclists could be seen, hurrying home.

I push the bike toward the main street, careful not to disturb the neighbors’ chatter or sleep.

Moving slowly, sweat running down my back.