[retelling] If only I had had the STEED… - Intermission 3: Honda Steed 400
The 3rd and the last fictional story in the collection kicks off with a scene where the main character named Kanta straddles and starts a bike, complete with all movements, sounds, the smell of gasoline and how heavy the helmet feels. A wave of sentimentality washes over him, he is saying goodbye - not for eternity maybe, but they won’t see each other again in this life. Shaking off the gloom, Kanta takes the bike for one last ride. On his left, there’s snow-caped, cloud-gridled Fuji. He was going to ride aimlessly, but finds himself tracing his very first route. Glancing at the key and seeing “a mark left from that time”, Kanta smiles.
In the spring when the boy was about to start high school his father was sent to France to conduct an inspection - the company he was working for exported parts to be used at waste disposal facilities. Kanta asked his father to buy a cool metal key as a souvenir. At school they were supposed to get their own locks for the lockers, and most kids just used commonplace combination dial locks. Kanta, however, was at the age when he wanted to stand out, so he was set on finding an unusual key. He didn’t even use a temporary, substitute lock until mid-May, when his father, upon his return, handed the boy a small paper packet. As Kanta unwrapped the souvenir though, he was momentarily stunned, feeling betrayed: the lock was a brass heart-shaped model.
Kanta got mad at his father who was making fun of him (apart from the shape, the boy is bothered by the fact that the lock is made from recycled metal) and asked for the money to get a motorcycle license as a 'compensation'.
Before that, in 2nd year of junior high school, he happened to see a photo in a magazine belonging to his pal's older brother. Kanta got horny yet at the same time inspired by the girl on a Honda Steed - so delicate, she's able to ride a huge bike, seems a cool person who doesn't care about other people's judgement.
After saving up enough money and waiting for a rare model to become available, he finally bought the bike of his dreams. At first he felt inadequate but then, remembering the girl in the photo, he got a confidence boost; slapping his own butt, he straddled the Steed.
During that first ride, he accidentally scratched the gas tank with the heart-shaped lock that he thought was most fitting as a key holder.
The ride itself was magical, Kanta felt so good that he started yelling inside his helmet. Anything seemed possible. He ended up leaving the lock at the viewing platform where he spent some time watching the night city-scape.
It's been six years since that day. Kanta is about to graduate from university. He's going to drive a car more often than his Steed, so this is a farewell - maybe someone will love the bike more than he at this point.
He arrives at the familiar viewing platform.
There are lots of locks hanging at the fence, it has become a spot for couples, to Kanta's surprise. His lock is a bit rusty; being a young man now as opposed to a teen, he realizes that the lock is actually unique and cute. Kanta wants to take the lock off and take it back home, but he doesn't have the key on him.
He could go home and then come back for the lock, but decides against it.
He has a feeling that he will return to this place again someday.