「這個給你，」隔壁座位的老奶奶遞給我一卷塑膠袋。
一時反應不過來，不曉得要塑膠袋做什麼。
「不要嗎？」老奶奶揚起下巴，用眼光示意我手上的那盒天婦羅。
「謝謝你，不用了，」這才瞭解是要給我裝天婦羅，我回答，「減少垃圾。」
其實我是刻意不用塑膠袋，常常用手端著餐盒搭車，這還是頭一次有陌生人出於好心主動問我。
那位老奶奶直到下車，都沒再說過一句話。這時我才反應過來，剛剛不經大腦說了蠢話。希望下次哪位老奶奶還是願意出於善意，主動關懷陌生人。
照片是當事天婦羅
”This is for you, “ said the granny next to me on the train while handing over a roll of plastic bag.
I did not realise what the bag for.
”You don’t want it?” she left her chin to point to the box of Tempora on my hands.
”No, thanks, “ I realised and replied, “ to reduce the waste.”
Instead of a plastic bag, I often hand carry the meal box on the train. However, this was the first time that a total stranger offered me kindness in Japan.
The granny did not say a word til she got off the train. Then, I suddenly realised that I had said stupid things without thinking. Hope the granny is still willing to offer a stranger her kindness next time.
「非常對不起，」我低著頭跟服務生說。
星期三中午，我在一家壽司餐廳點了菜單上最貴的午餐。看著師傅熟練地捏壽司時，伸手到A4大小的提袋裡，撈不到我的錢包，只好打開袋子仔細搜索。不在袋子裡！大概是忘記在家裡了。
查詢餐廳的官網，尋找可以使用的電子支付的選項。哎，不支援我手機裡唯一的電子支付。
這時，餐點送到面前了。
「唉，算了。」
慢慢享用從小鎮回到都市後最精緻的午餐，然後反覆在心裡練習等一下要說的日語，等待服務生空閒的時刻到來。終於，用憋腳的日語解釋自己忘記帶錢包，住在附近，可以把手機抵押在店裡，15分鐘就會回來結帳。
”I am very sorry,” I said to the waitress.
It was Wednesday noon and I had ordered the most expensive lunch in a sushi restaurant. While watching the chef handcrafted the sushi, I stretched my hand into my A4-size tote bag. I could not grub my wallet, so I opened the bag to thoroughly inspect inside the bag. It’s not there! I must have forgot it at home.
I checked the website of the restaurant for their electronic payment options. Unfortunately , the only electronic payment on my phone was not supported.
Then, my meal was served.
”Well, forget it, “ I thought.
I enjoyed the finest lunch after returning from a countryside, rehearsed the upcoming conversation in Japanese in my head many times, and waited for the moment when the waitress was free. I explained that I forgot my wallet at home, my place was near, I could deposit my mobile phone and come back in 15 minutes.
「沒開嗎？！」小男孩看到泳池管理員不在。
我十分鐘前到的時候，也有一樣的疑問，因為泳池空無一人，燈也都沒開。已經習慣小鎮的餐廳常常提早打烊，但是沒有想到公營的泳池，應該在晚上六點開始的，才六點半就打烊了嗎？
我沒有離開，因為管理員室的電視是開著的。還沒想到要怎麼辦，小男孩在父母親還在停車的時候跑進來了。
突然管理員不知道從哪裡冒出來，跟著小男孩的父母親進來，然後開啟泳池照明開始營運。
還好，鬆了一口氣。真不知道那一家人沒來泳池的話會怎樣。
”Is it not open?!” A boy said when he saw no staff in the pool.
I arrived 10 minutes ago. I was surprised as well because the light was completely off. I had been used to the fact that restaurants often close earlier than schedule in this small town, but I had not expected the pool run by the council could have closed 30 minutes after opening at 6 PM.
I was hesitant to leave because the TV in the staff room was on. I did not figure out what to do, yet the boy rushed in when his parents were still parking the car.
The staff came out of the blue right after the boy’s parents came in. Then, the staff switched on all the light.
I was glad the pool was open but wondered what would happen if the family had not come to the pool tonight.
我把申請表格遞給市公所職員：「我從海外遷入戶口。」
職員確認過表格之後問：「你有帶…」
不等她講完，我已經把護照翻開到有出入境章的那一頁給她。呵呵，我對這些流程已經暸若指掌了。
職員：「我找不到這個地址，你有不動產公司的電話嗎？」
被抓包了！這不是一般的月租公寓。
職員好心地提議：「我可以幫你打電話給不動產公司。」
我不得不承認：「ㄜ …這是飯店。」
職員：「飯店地址不能登記喔，飯店有沒有同意？」
我：「是喔？我不知道耶。」
可惡，上次成功地偷用公寓式酒店登記地址，我以為可以蒙混過關的。
”I am moving in from overseas,” I handed the application form to the ward office staff.
”Do you have your...” the staff said after checking my application form.
I handed over my passport before she finished her question. I was proud of myself that I knew the procedure so well.
”I cannot find the address. Do you have the contact of the real estate agent?” she asked.
Busted! It’s not a rental appartment.
“I can call the agent for you, “ she kept asking.
”Er… hmm… it is a hotel, “ I relunctantly answered.
”Hotel address cannot be registered, “ she said.
”Oh, really?! I didn’t know that…“ I pretended.
Damn! I had used a weekly apartment hotel once for resident registration. I thought I could cheat again.
區公所職員大喊：「來賓546號。」
距離區公所結束時間只剩一小時。大廳有準備很多椅子，但是現場等候的人更多。如我所料地非常忙碌。
我遞出遷入戶籍的表單，找到張椅子坐下，打開筆電開始工作。為自己的周全準備感到得意。
抬頭休息，環顧四周，覺得自己比其他人更有效地等待的利用時間。突然發現旁邊比我更早到的女士，正在用鉤針，串尼龍繩，裝飾剛勾好的手機袋。
嗯，人外有人。
”Customer number 546," yelled the ward office staff.
It’s the last hour before the ward office closed. Several stall were calling the next customers. There were a lot of seats in the lobby but there were more much more people waiting. It’s as busy as I expected.
I submitted my application for move-in registration, found a seat in the lobby, and started working on my laptop. I was proud of myself that I was well prepared for the long wait.
I left up my head to relax, looked around, and felt superior to others who were wasting their time. Then, I noticed the woman next to me was using a needle hook to decorate her knitting masterpiece.
Hmm… there were always some people better than me.
「已經是四月了⋯」
「好大的雪，」服務生和我一樣驚訝。在餐廳吃晚餐時就看到窗外的大雨，沒想到要離開時變成下大雪。
「雪與櫻花。」服務生接著說。
好奇妙的組合。我對夜櫻沒興趣，更不愛下雪。不過，還是繞路去看看雪中的夜櫻。
"It's already April," I said.
"A lot of snow," the waitress replied.
I had seen the heavy rain when having my dinner in a steakhouse, but it became the heavy snow when I was leaving.
"Snow and cherry blossoms," continued the waitress.
What a rare combination. I was not interested in cherry blossoms at night. I did not like snow at all. But I took a detour to see the cherry blossoms while snowing.
區公所職員：「請在表格上寫下個人編號卡的密碼。」
昨天試著用個人編號卡登入政府網站報稅，可能是輸入錯誤的密碼太多次，卡片被鎖住，只好來區公所更新密碼。
我把填好的表格交給區公所職員後，他開始在鍵盤上輸入資料。
區公所職員問：「你是不是曾經離開日本？」
「是的，」我還在試著回想確切的日期。
「卡片密碼不能更新，」區公所職員試著解釋細節，還給我另一張表格申請新卡片。
不確定有沒有聽懂，好像是因為兩個月前離開日本的時候，把戶籍遷出讓卡片失效了。
「我只是想用這張卡片上網報稅啊...」我小聲地說。
「那來不及了，申請新卡片要兩個月。」
我從來就不喜歡這張卡片。每次搬家都要更新在留卡和個人編號卡的地址。多一張卡片只是花更久的時間更新地址。對我而言，個人編號卡唯一的用處就是上網報稅。我才不要再申請新卡片。
"Please write down the 4-digit passcode of My Number card on the form," the city council clerk asked.
I had tried a few times to login the government website with My Number Card, which is the national identify card in Japan. I probably had entered the wrong code too many times and got the card locked. I had to declare my income tax in a week, so no choice but visiting the city concil to reset the passcode.
I filled up the form and handed it over. The clerk started typing on the keyboard.
"Did you move overseas?" asked the clerk.
"Yes," I tried to recall the exact date.
"The passcode cannot be reset," the clerk tried to explain in detail and gave me another form for applying a new card.
I was not sure if I understood, but the card seemed to become invalid because I had reported my move out overseas two monthes ago.
"I just want to use the card to declare income tax..." I murmured.
"It will not make it in time. It takes 2 months to apply the new card," the clark said.
I never liked the card. I had to update the address on residence card and My Number card whenever I moved. The card just made the move in registration longer. The only occasion I could use Ny Number card was to declare income tax online. I will never ever apply for the new card.
The cafe owner realized that my was a foreigner as soon as I spoke. However, the owner was keen in chatting with me.
"Is that mountain..." I was struggling to find the correct Japan vocabulary.
"Yes, it is Sakurajima..." the owner was struggling to find the English vocabulary as well.
"Volcano," I said. I had known that was the famous volcano but I just wanted the confirmation. It's hard not to notice the volcano because it was smoking and very close to the city.
醫生：「在上面寫上日期和名字，並且出示健保卡。」
我把快篩劑和健保卡擺在 iPad 鏡頭前，給線上看診的醫師看。
醫生問：「這是第一次嗎？」
我：「是。」在躲避新冠病毒整整三年之後，這是第一次確診。
"Write the date and your name on the test kit," the doctor said, "and present your health insurance card."
I held the kit and the card in front of the iPad camera for a remote clinic.
"Is it the first time?" the doctor asked.
"Yes," I replied. It's the first time after dodging the Coronavirus for 3 years.
