“Hurry up and get out of bed!”
Hearing Ayako's rude bellow, I opened my eyes. The brightness of the room gave me a shock.
“Good morn - ”
How annoying – this brightness is too glaring –
I buried my face in the blankets. Then a fist came flying over.
“Get up already!”
“Wu – yeah.”
While I was mumbling to myself, I was suddenly thrown onto the floor. – Or to be accurate, someone hauled me out of my blanket and I rolled onto the floor.
“Oww –”
Opening my eyes, I could see rice and dishes that had already been prepared, sitting in the corner. Only I was still wearing my pajamas and hugging my blanket, unwilling to release it.
“Ah – ah, the meal is already ready; I'm very hungry.”
“Hurry up and wake up; girls are supposed to be homely, how can you be like this!”
Oh shut up, I'm too sleepy. What girls are supposed to be, it's alright any way. I was still bleary eyed from sleep, but when I saw the situation in the room I jumped up immediately.
“--!”
I was stunned because I saw a crowd of people in front of me. – Hn!
Right, only Bou-san would do something like haul me out of bed. John and Yasuhara were smiling forcibly, a little pink in the face.
Damn it, what did I do in front of the boys? Snore? There's no longer any point in pretending to be a lady now; my personality probably had been completely revealed ages ago, but this is probably the worst thing (that could have happened).
“Ah – good morning!”
Hastily I washed my face, and ran to the next hut to change my clothes. (Regardless, the audience here was too big so I couldn't change.) After that I came back to eat.
“Let's eat –”
Ayako really knows how to cook – a complete contrast from her garish exterior. Perhaps it's because she had always been cooking usually; people are really difficult to comprehend.
“Eat, eat.”
“You haven't had anything to eat since yesterday, you must be very hungry now.”
“Don't speak of me as though I'm a starved cat!”
“Aren't you?”
– It is indeed so.
After returning last night, after taking a bath and waiting for my hair to dry, I had unknowingly fallen asleep.
“When did you guys wake up?”
“Much earlier than you, that's all.”
– That really is embarrassing.
“We went to the village's public offices to look for the village chief, we also went to buy things, and we cooked.”
“Thanks for your work!”
“Then don't appear completely unapologetic.”
I know, I know. Thanks, everyone, for giving me time to sleep.
“Right, how were things dealt with in the end?”
“The blame was taken by the assistant.”
Upon hearing this, I looked at Bou-san.
“The blame?”
“But they don't want to get into trouble with the police now, right? But there are bodies everywhere, with things like this, it's not possible to pretend that nothing had happened, even if they wanted to.”
Indeed.
“Then he said that after the assistant discovered it, he decided on his own to resolve it this way.”
“Is that so... well, this is called reaping what you've sown.”
“Right, right.”
… mentioning bodies...
“Ne, what's the situation at the reservoir?”
“It's currently in progress. As expected, they stopped yesterday due to the rain.”
“...”
That really is rather troublesome.
“You bunch of fellows, can you actually talk while discussing this type of topic?”
Ayako's face was filled with disgust.
“It's really annoying, Ayako, don't pretend to be so sensitive.”
“I'm not pretending; I'm really very sensitive to this type of topic.”
“(*^__^*) Hee hee... got it. But psychics clearly should have achieved enlightenment regarding something like this. Any how, psychics and monks should be similar.”
“Whatever.”
“It's impossible to start unless people die.”
These few people started laughing again.
“Tell me about it.”
“Miss, the job of a monk is not limited to burial services!”
Bou-san said, wriggling his brows.
“What else do you do besides burial services?”
“I also do marriage services.”
“Is that so...”
“Idiot, regardless, you'll be the one who will marry in front of Buddha.”
“Hei ai – ”
“Swear, in front of the statue of Budda in a proper monastery, and exchange rosaries.”
– rosaries? (not a ring?)
“That's not the least bit romantic.”
“But this won't be done by any other than a monk's children.”
Is that so...
“What's so great about that? You can also help people turn over a new leaf.”
Upon hearing these words of Ayako's, I lost enthusiasm once more.
“Indeed, once the office is closed we won't need to do investigations any more.”
With much difficulty I had learnt how to cleanse spirits. That's not right, I don't even want to continue doing this type of thing. But...
“After the office closes, I'll have a lot of free time.”
It was John who spoke.
“... Yeah, it'll be hard to organize my time if I keep going to the office.”
Perhaps I might even face economic difficulty. How would I manage without my salary?
“If it's like this, do you want to come to the seminary to take a look next time?”
I was momentarily stunned.
“Seminary? Is a seminary the school that teaches children the bible?”
“It is. I've always been helping to look after them, all those boisterous children. But everyone gets along very well. Are you not good at dealing with children, Mai?”
“I'm OK with playing with children, but I've never studied the bible before...”
John smiled.
“Actually, it's almost just like playing with the children. If you don't dislike that, then come and try it out once.”
A seminar – what is that like?
Just as I was pondering upon this question, Bou-san started laughing silently by the side.
“What are you laughing at – ”
“Nothing much, I'm just imagining what it will be like – ”
“What how it will be like?”
“John, the male nanny!”
Everyone burst out in laughter.
Really, he probably must be like a male nanny. I can imagine John, wrapped around the children's fingers, with a troubled, but still smiling face.
“A seminary is great indeed!”
“Yes. If you like it, Takigawa-san, you can come along as well.”
“Let's go take a look, it's really nostalgic.”
Pa – everyone halted abruptly.
“Nostalgic?”
“Indeed, because I've been there when I was little.”
“... Wait a moment!”
“Bou-san, is your home not at the monastery?”
“It is the monastery, is there anything wrong? Is a child of a monk not allowed to go – because there are comics and free snacks at the seminary.”
– so this is his real aim, this corrupted monk!
After the meal, we chased the 3 men out and started cleaning up.
“Who can hire me for work...”
Ayako, who was polishing the dishes, said with a bitter smile,
“I can hire you, but I can't pay you as much as the SPR.”
Ah – is this so –
“It's good to be special. – Do you make a living only from being a psychic, Ayako?”
“More or less, when I don't have enough, my family will still support me.”
“Right, your family is rich, so there's no need to marry a rich guy or anything.”
Ayako burst out laughing.
“There are people beyond this person, heavens beyond the sky. Although my family owns a villa, we don't own a yacht. Oh he he he he...”
“You extravagant fellow!”
“You and I are not the same. I am an extravagant woman.”
“Hn!”
“Ha ha ha ha...”
“Ayako, you're an only daughter, right? Don't you have to continue the family line?”
“Find a good looking, doctor with money in the family to be an adopted son, and that'd solve the problem, wouldn't it?”
I glared vehemently at Ayako.
“You really are an incredibly extravagant and wasteful person!”
“Don't you know that Japan is a country with a large discrepancy between the rich and poor?”
“No, I don't! – What about you, Masako? Do you have brothers or sisters?”
Masako, who was shaking water out from the bowls, looked at me, wide eyed.
“I don't. Why do you think to ask this?”
“Background investigation. Because, thinking about it carefully, I am completely unaware of everyone's family background.”
“Is that so.”
“Right, if the office closes, I think it's not impossible that everyone does not meet again. So I want to take advantage of the moment and ask.”
“We won't meet once the office is closed? Why would you think that?”
“Is that not so?”
“Perhaps...”
I sighed.
“I don't know your home phone number too, Masako.”
“I don't know your contact address either, Mai!”
“Yes... indeed.”
“But won't you know once you ask?”
“If I asked, would you tell me?”
Masako sighed, turned, and walked into the building.
“So you'll feel lonely, Mai.”
Ayako said, smiling.
“Yeah, I'll be lonely, because I've already gotten used to everyone's bullying. If there comes a day when you guys don't bully me anymore, I'll actually feel that there's something missing.”
“Bully you? That can't be right, can it? If I can marry some rich heir, then I might bring you along as a maid.”
“Rejected!”
In the end... perhaps we are only able to get along at work.
Sighing a deep sigh, I didn't notice Masako's footsteps as she returned.
“Mai!”
“Yeah?”
Masako held my hand.
“Masako?”
“...”
“Wait... wait a moment, what are you about to do?”
“...”
“Hey! I'm talking to you! Wait, what are you about to do?”
“Alright, here!”
Masako held up a ball point pen, smiling. Ayako also burst out laughing.
“... What are you thinking of, Masko?”
“Address and telephone contact.”
“Do you usually write it on other people's forearm?”
“Ah la, is it better to write it on your blouse then?”
“I say, you...”
Looking at my own forearm, ah – ah, she actually wrote it in such a large font.
“Stick your hand out!”
“No!”
“If you don't then I'll write it on your kimono!”
“I don't want that either!”
She's really such a troublesome fellow.
“Yes yes yes, I know!”
“There's some note paper in the house.”
“...”
“Do you feel embarrassed officially exchanging addresses?”
Yeah, I finally understood the reason why Masako would write her address on my forearm. To write it on note paper would appear to be too formal, as though saying, 'please contact me'. Like this, she would feel very embarrassed, the others are also probably like this as well. This type of embarrassed friendship does exist as well.
“I think everyone is also thinking like this!”
“Probably – ”
“At least, that's what I think. I want to send out New Year cards, but because I didn't dare to ask for addresses, I gave up.”
Ah – indeed, there's the tradition of sending out New Year cards.
“John has said something like this before too.”
Ayako said.
“Ai?”
“He said he wanted to send everyone Christmas cards, but felt it was a little strange to ask for contact details at this late stage...”
Yeah... yes, it could be just like this.
“It's a strange relationship.”
“Indeed.”
“Agreed!”
I was provoked.
If the office was still there, it was a matter of course that I could meet everyone.
I love everyone very much, (but) it's a little strange to call us friends. I think we feel more like a family, as though this feeling would go on forever. – But there are no banquets under the heavens that do not come to an end.
If I didn't want to loose contact, then all I needed to do was say so; it wasn't a huge matter of life and death. It'll be alright to tell the others that I didn't want to lose contact. After that, how the other person responds is that person's problem.
Thus, in the afternoon, I found a large stack of note paper, and made a heap of name cards with many colors. To hide my embarrassment, I made the name cards as bright as possible, and drew a comic saying, 'contact me from time to time', and even decorated it with a few hearts.
At 3 o'clock, teatime, I handed the name cards out. Everyone was stunned, and then they all laghed.
“Ya ah, Taniyama really is a high school student.”
“The different colors are really pretty.”
“This old man is getting blurred vision from looking at it.”
“I'm really suspicious of your sense of beauty.”
“You really should just give up.”
You guys can say whatever you want, but I don't want to lose contact with you guys and hope you guys can contact me.
“But this way of thinking is indeed not bad. – Where's the note paper?”
Yasuhara said, as he excitedly started making his own name cards.
“An cheerful, lively telephone boy awaits you!”
Taking the name cards on which this sentence was written, everyone laughed.
“You fellow, is isn't for a call center employee, is it?!”
“It sounds like a person from a telephone booth.”
“It is true that he is cheerful...”
“Yes!”
That really is like Yasuhara.
In the end, I received everyone's contact address, and felt very happy. Like this, even if the office closes, we will not be unable to contact each other.
Besides the two other persons...
“If Naru and Lin were to see this, they'd laugh out loud!”
I'm not sure who said this, but everyone became slightly subdued.
It wouldn't take any guessing to tell how the two of them would respond. First, they'd be completely stunned, or they'd put on a face as though thinking of something, the third possibility is that they'd behave as though nothing had happened and completely forget about it.
“Those two people wouldn't feel this at all.”
With a sigh, Ayako spoke,
“It isn't our problem, is it? Even if it isn't us, I don't think they would keep in contact.”
“Really?!”
If we weren't more frank, would we not regret it?
“Ah la, mentioning that, do you specially want to meet them again?”
“Yeah, even if our time together is at an end, I still want to maintain contact. Because I like Lin-san and Naru too – ”
– But this isn't from my heart either.
Just as I was thinking that, Ayako stared at me, wide eyed.
“Yeah? You aren't honest at all.”
“ 'Like' in the sense that it's because his body is weak so I'm worried and concerned; 'like' in the sense that he holds so many secrets that I'm frustrated!”
… Sigh, I'm not being honest at all.
“Because we are all outside their consideration of problems, because I like the pair of them a lot, that's why this is the last memory. But this is only on my part.”
“That really is a completely inconclusive piece of unrequited love.”
“Yeah, I know that unrequited love will be very difficult. But, even if I were to say, 'I don't like the two of you at all', isn't that completely pointless too? Because, to those two persons, I'm completely not within their sphere of consideration, so they won't be hurt at all, right? Then after they go somewhere else, they'd forget me completely.”
“Yes... ah,”
“Regardless of who is suffering from unrequited love, if they can't make the other person remember them in their hearts, they would feel very regretful. With so much regret, they would say things like 'I hate' and other narrow hearted things. If the feelings are not shared, and one is not able to get a response from the other person, it'd turn out to be very vulgar in the end.”
At this time, Ayako turned embarassedly to face the other way.
“You really have grown into an adult!”
Bou-san patted my head loudly.
“... Yeah, people are beings that constantly grow, but they are also capable of regressing.”
“This is where the joy of being human is. I (Bou-san) like your positive look, Mai!”
“I like you too, Bou-san!”
“You shameless fellow...”
“Ah! Are you jealous, Ayako? Come join us, come –”
“I don't want to!”
“You aren't being honest at all, but I like the Ayako that is a little dishonest!”
“Me too!”
“Don't say that anymore!”
“I like you!”
“Me too!”
“Stop it!”
“Ah! She's blushing!”
“Well – she's a bashful creature!”
“Ne, indeed!”
“The pair of you!!!”
Just as we were joyously joking noisily, Masako spoke. Yasuhara also stood up.
“Shibuya.”
Pushing aside the screen, Naru and Lin-san just walked past the steps. Because the house Naru and co lived in was further inside, they had to pass through this area to get to the river bank.
“... Just right, are you in a hurry now?”
Naru (looked) a little alarmed.
“I'm not very busy, but neither am I free!”
“There's a little something I want to ask, can I take a little of your time?”
“... Now?”
“Now is the best time.”
– wanted to ask a little something –
“Go ahead.”
“Then please come inside.”
“Won't this place do?”
“Because the question is a little complicated, I'm very sorry. – I also have some things to ask you, Lin-san, please come in!”
Naru and Lin-san exchanged glances; on our side, we also exchanged clanses.
What exactly were we going to ask them?
The two of them immediately walked back around the balcony to the vestibule.
“Take a seat!”
Yasuhara made two places for us to write our name cards individually. In one space, he had Naru and Lin-san sit down, then he sat down with a serious expression himself.
“ – this – this – ”
What was he going to ask?
“We have Darjeeling and Earl Grey Tea, which do you prefer?”
Naru wrinkled his brow slightly.
“Leave the tea, what did you want to ask –”
“Then is there anything you'd like to drink? Hot coffee or iced coffee? How strong? With milk? Do you want a lemon slice? Or is there anything else you'd like to drink? Would you like to have apple essence added? And cookies and cake, which would you like? Or would you like both?”
– stunned!
“Ne, it's very complicated, right?”
Yasuhara smiled; Naru sighed.
“Then what is it you want to ask?”
“This is the thing we wanted to ask!”
Yasuhara replied very sincerely, which made Naru sigh even more exhaustedly.
“... anything will do.”
Oh oh oh! I didn't think that Naru and Lin-san would be captured by tea.
“Incredible! As to be expected of a business man!” (tl/n: J/C tl noted that the original text used the term 'Echigoya (越后屋)' in place of 'business man'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsui for more information about a smart businessman, whose shop was called Echigoya.)
“Sly old devil!”
“It should be earnest, respected man, to be correct!”
“Hurry up and get out of bed!”
Hearing Ayako's rude bellow, I opened my eyes. The brightness of the room gave me a shock.
“Good morn - ”
How annoying – this brightness is too glaring –
I buried my face in the blankets. Then a fist came flying over.
“Get up already!”
“Wu – yeah.”
While I was mumbling to myself, I was suddenly thrown onto the floor. – Or to be accurate, someone hauled me out of my blanket and I rolled onto the floor.
“Oww –”
Opening my eyes, I could see rice and dishes that had already been prepared, sitting in the corner. Only I was still wearing my pajamas and hugging my blanket, unwilling to release it.
“Ah – ah, the meal is already ready; I'm very hungry.”
“Hurry up and wake up; girls are supposed to be homely, how can you be like this!”
Oh shut up, I'm too sleepy. What girls are supposed to be, it's alright any way. I was still bleary eyed from sleep, but when I saw the situation in the room I jumped up immediately.
“--!”
I was stunned because I saw a crowd of people in front of me. – Hn!
Right, only Bou-san would do something like haul me out of bed. John and Yasuhara were smiling forcibly, a little pink in the face.
Damn it, what did I do in front of the boys? Snore? There's no longer any point in pretending to be a lady now; my personality probably had been completely revealed ages ago, but this is probably the worst thing (that could have happened).
“Ah – good morning!”
Hastily I washed my face, and ran to the next hut to change my clothes. (Regardless, the audience here was too big so I couldn't change.) After that I came back to eat.
“Let's eat –”
Ayako really knows how to cook – a complete contrast from her garish exterior. Perhaps it's because she had always been cooking usually; people are really difficult to comprehend.
“Eat, eat.”
“You haven't had anything to eat since yesterday, you must be very hungry now.”
“Don't speak of me as though I'm a starved cat!”
“Aren't you?”
– It is indeed so.
After returning last night, after taking a bath and waiting for my hair to dry, I had unknowingly fallen asleep.
“When did you guys wake up?”
“Much earlier than you, that's all.”
– That really is embarrassing.
“We went to the village's public offices to look for the village chief, we also went to buy things, and we cooked.”
“Thanks for your work!”
“Then don't appear completely unapologetic.”
I know, I know. Thanks, everyone, for giving me time to sleep.
“Right, how were things dealt with in the end?”
“The blame was taken by the assistant.”
Upon hearing this, I looked at Bou-san.
“The blame?”
“But they don't want to get into trouble with the police now, right? But there are bodies everywhere, with things like this, it's not possible to pretend that nothing had happened, even if they wanted to.”
Indeed.
“Then he said that after the assistant discovered it, he decided on his own to resolve it this way.”
“Is that so... well, this is called reaping what you've sown.”
“Right, right.”
… mentioning bodies...
“Ne, what's the situation at the reservoir?”
“It's currently in progress. As expected, they stopped yesterday due to the rain.”
“...”
That really is rather troublesome.
“You bunch of fellows, can you actually talk while discussing this type of topic?”
Ayako's face was filled with disgust.
“It's really annoying, Ayako, don't pretend to be so sensitive.”
“I'm not pretending; I'm really very sensitive to this type of topic.”
“(*^__^*) Hee hee... got it. But psychics clearly should have achieved enlightenment regarding something like this. Any how, psychics and monks should be similar.”
“Whatever.”
“It's impossible to start unless people die.”
These few people started laughing again.
“Tell me about it.”
“Miss, the job of a monk is not limited to burial services!”
Bou-san said, wriggling his brows.
“What else do you do besides burial services?”
“I also do marriage services.”
“Is that so...”
“Idiot, regardless, you'll be the one who will marry in front of Buddha.”
“Hei ai – ”
“Swear, in front of the statue of Budda in a proper monastery, and exchange rosaries.”
– rosaries? (not a ring?)
“That's not the least bit romantic.”
“But this won't be done by any other than a monk's children.”
Is that so...
“What's so great about that? You can also help people turn over a new leaf.”
Upon hearing these words of Ayako's, I lost enthusiasm once more.
“Indeed, once the office is closed we won't need to do investigations any more.”
With much difficulty I had learnt how to cleanse spirits. That's not right, I don't even want to continue doing this type of thing. But...
“After the office closes, I'll have a lot of free time.”
It was John who spoke.
“... Yeah, it'll be hard to organize my time if I keep going to the office.”
Perhaps I might even face economic difficulty. How would I manage without my salary?
“If it's like this, do you want to come to the seminary to take a look next time?”
I was momentarily stunned.
“Seminary? Is a seminary the school that teaches children the bible?”
“It is. I've always been helping to look after them, all those boisterous children. But everyone gets along very well. Are you not good at dealing with children, Mai?”
“I'm OK with playing with children, but I've never studied the bible before...”
John smiled.
“Actually, it's almost just like playing with the children. If you don't dislike that, then come and try it out once.”
A seminar – what is that like?
Just as I was pondering upon this question, Bou-san started laughing silently by the side.
“What are you laughing at – ”
“Nothing much, I'm just imagining what it will be like – ”
“What how it will be like?”
“John, the male nanny!”
Everyone burst out in laughter.
Really, he probably must be like a male nanny. I can imagine John, wrapped around the children's fingers, with a troubled, but still smiling face.
“A seminary is great indeed!”
“Yes. If you like it, Takigawa-san, you can come along as well.”
“Let's go take a look, it's really nostalgic.”
Pa – everyone halted abruptly.
“Nostalgic?”
“Indeed, because I've been there when I was little.”
“... Wait a moment!”
“Bou-san, is your home not at the monastery?”
“It is the monastery, is there anything wrong? Is a child of a monk not allowed to go – because there are comics and free snacks at the seminary.”
– so this is his real aim, this corrupted monk!
After the meal, we chased the 3 men out and started cleaning up.
“Who can hire me for work...”
Ayako, who was polishing the dishes, said with a bitter smile,
“I can hire you, but I can't pay you as much as the SPR.”
Ah – is this so –
“It's good to be special. – Do you make a living only from being a psychic, Ayako?”
“More or less, when I don't have enough, my family will still support me.”
“Right, your family is rich, so there's no need to marry a rich guy or anything.”
Ayako burst out laughing.
“There are people beyond this person, heavens beyond the sky. Although my family owns a villa, we don't own a yacht. Oh he he he he...”
“You extravagant fellow!”
“You and I are not the same. I am an extravagant woman.”
“Hn!”
“Ha ha ha ha...”
“Ayako, you're an only daughter, right? Don't you have to continue the family line?”
“Find a good looking, doctor with money in the family to be an adopted son, and that'd solve the problem, wouldn't it?”
I glared vehemently at Ayako.
“You really are an incredibly extravagant and wasteful person!”
“Don't you know that Japan is a country with a large discrepancy between the rich and poor?”
“No, I don't! – What about you, Masako? Do you have brothers or sisters?”
Masako, who was shaking water out from the bowls, looked at me, wide eyed.
“I don't. Why do you think to ask this?”
“Background investigation. Because, thinking about it carefully, I am completely unaware of everyone's family background.”
“Is that so.”
“Right, if the office closes, I think it's not impossible that everyone does not meet again. So I want to take advantage of the moment and ask.”
“We won't meet once the office is closed? Why would you think that?”
“Is that not so?”
“Perhaps...”
I sighed.
“I don't know your home phone number too, Masako.”
“I don't know your contact address either, Mai!”
“Yes... indeed.”
“But won't you know once you ask?”
“If I asked, would you tell me?”
Masako sighed, turned, and walked into the building.
“So you'll feel lonely, Mai.”
Ayako said, smiling.
“Yeah, I'll be lonely, because I've already gotten used to everyone's bullying. If there comes a day when you guys don't bully me anymore, I'll actually feel that there's something missing.”
“Bully you? That can't be right, can it? If I can marry some rich heir, then I might bring you along as a maid.”
“Rejected!”
In the end... perhaps we are only able to get along at work.
Sighing a deep sigh, I didn't notice Masako's footsteps as she returned.
“Mai!”
“Yeah?”
Masako held my hand.
“Masako?”
“...”
“Wait... wait a moment, what are you about to do?”
“...”
“Hey! I'm talking to you! Wait, what are you about to do?”
“Alright, here!”
Masako held up a ball point pen, smiling. Ayako also burst out laughing.
“... What are you thinking of, Masko?”
“Address and telephone contact.”
“Do you usually write it on other people's forearm?”
“Ah la, is it better to write it on your blouse then?”
“I say, you...”
Looking at my own forearm, ah – ah, she actually wrote it in such a large font.
“Stick your hand out!”
“No!”
“If you don't then I'll write it on your kimono!”
“I don't want that either!”
She's really such a troublesome fellow.
“Yes yes yes, I know!”
“There's some note paper in the house.”
“...”
“Do you feel embarrassed officially exchanging addresses?”
Yeah, I finally understood the reason why Masako would write her address on my forearm. To write it on note paper would appear to be too formal, as though saying, 'please contact me'. Like this, she would feel very embarrassed, the others are also probably like this as well. This type of embarrassed friendship does exist as well.
“I think everyone is also thinking like this!”
“Probably – ”
“At least, that's what I think. I want to send out New Year cards, but because I didn't dare to ask for addresses, I gave up.”
Ah – indeed, there's the tradition of sending out New Year cards.
“John has said something like this before too.”
Ayako said.
“Ai?”
“He said he wanted to send everyone Christmas cards, but felt it was a little strange to ask for contact details at this late stage...”
Yeah... yes, it could be just like this.
“It's a strange relationship.”
“Indeed.”
“Agreed!”
I was provoked.
If the office was still there, it was a matter of course that I could meet everyone.
I love everyone very much, (but) it's a little strange to call us friends. I think we feel more like a family, as though this feeling would go on forever. – But there are no banquets under the heavens that do not come to an end.
If I didn't want to loose contact, then all I needed to do was say so; it wasn't a huge matter of life and death. It'll be alright to tell the others that I didn't want to lose contact. After that, how the other person responds is that person's problem.
Thus, in the afternoon, I found a large stack of note paper, and made a heap of name cards with many colors. To hide my embarrassment, I made the name cards as bright as possible, and drew a comic saying, 'contact me from time to time', and even decorated it with a few hearts.
At 3 o'clock, teatime, I handed the name cards out. Everyone was stunned, and then they all laghed.
“Ya ah, Taniyama really is a high school student.”
“The different colors are really pretty.”
“This old man is getting blurred vision from looking at it.”
“I'm really suspicious of your sense of beauty.”
“You really should just give up.”
You guys can say whatever you want, but I don't want to lose contact with you guys and hope you guys can contact me.
“But this way of thinking is indeed not bad. – Where's the note paper?”
Yasuhara said, as he excitedly started making his own name cards.
“An cheerful, lively telephone boy awaits you!”
Taking the name cards on which this sentence was written, everyone laughed.
“You fellow, is isn't for a call center employee, is it?!”
“It sounds like a person from a telephone booth.”
“It is true that he is cheerful...”
“Yes!”
That really is like Yasuhara.
In the end, I received everyone's contact address, and felt very happy. Like this, even if the office closes, we will not be unable to contact each other.
Besides the two other persons...
“If Naru and Lin were to see this, they'd laugh out loud!”
I'm not sure who said this, but everyone became slightly subdued.
It wouldn't take any guessing to tell how the two of them would respond. First, they'd be completely stunned, or they'd put on a face as though thinking of something, the third possibility is that they'd behave as though nothing had happened and completely forget about it.
“Those two people wouldn't feel this at all.”
With a sigh, Ayako spoke,
“It isn't our problem, is it? Even if it isn't us, I don't think they would keep in contact.”
“Really?!”
If we weren't more frank, would we not regret it?
“Ah la, mentioning that, do you specially want to meet them again?”
“Yeah, even if our time together is at an end, I still want to maintain contact. Because I like Lin-san and Naru too – ”
– But this isn't from my heart either.
Just as I was thinking that, Ayako stared at me, wide eyed.
“Yeah? You aren't honest at all.”
“ 'Like' in the sense that it's because his body is weak so I'm worried and concerned; 'like' in the sense that he holds so many secrets that I'm frustrated!”
… Sigh, I'm not being honest at all.
“Because we are all outside their consideration of problems, because I like the pair of them a lot, that's why this is the last memory. But this is only on my part.”
“That really is a completely inconclusive piece of unrequited love.”
“Yeah, I know that unrequited love will be very difficult. But, even if I were to say, 'I don't like the two of you at all', isn't that completely pointless too? Because, to those two persons, I'm completely not within their sphere of consideration, so they won't be hurt at all, right? Then after they go somewhere else, they'd forget me completely.”
“Yes... ah,”
“Regardless of who is suffering from unrequited love, if they can't make the other person remember them in their hearts, they would feel very regretful. With so much regret, they would say things like 'I hate' and other narrow hearted things. If the feelings are not shared, and one is not able to get a response from the other person, it'd turn out to be very vulgar in the end.”
At this time, Ayako turned embarassedly to face the other way.
“You really have grown into an adult!”
Bou-san patted my head loudly.
“... Yeah, people are beings that constantly grow, but they are also capable of regressing.”
“This is where the joy of being human is. I (Bou-san) like your positive look, Mai!”
“I like you too, Bou-san!”
“You shameless fellow...”
“Ah! Are you jealous, Ayako? Come join us, come –”
“I don't want to!”
“You aren't being honest at all, but I like the Ayako that is a little dishonest!”
“Me too!”
“Don't say that anymore!”
“I like you!”
“Me too!”
“Stop it!”
“Ah! She's blushing!”
“Well – she's a bashful creature!”
“Ne, indeed!”
“The pair of you!!!”
Just as we were joyously joking noisily, Masako spoke. Yasuhara also stood up.
“Shibuya.”
Pushing aside the screen, Naru and Lin-san just walked past the steps. Because the house Naru and co lived in was further inside, they had to pass through this area to get to the river bank.
“... Just right, are you in a hurry now?”
Naru (looked) a little alarmed.
“I'm not very busy, but neither am I free!”
“There's a little something I want to ask, can I take a little of your time?”
“... Now?”
“Now is the best time.”
– wanted to ask a little something –
“Go ahead.”
“Then please come inside.”
“Won't this place do?”
“Because the question is a little complicated, I'm very sorry. – I also have some things to ask you, Lin-san, please come in!”
Naru and Lin-san exchanged glances; on our side, we also exchanged clanses.
What exactly were we going to ask them?
The two of them immediately walked back around the balcony to the vestibule.
“Take a seat!”
Yasuhara made two places for us to write our name cards individually. In one space, he had Naru and Lin-san sit down, then he sat down with a serious expression himself.
“ – this – this – ”
What was he going to ask?
“We have Darjeeling and Earl Grey Tea, which do you prefer?”
Naru wrinkled his brow slightly.
“Leave the tea, what did you want to ask –”
“Then is there anything you'd like to drink? Hot coffee or iced coffee? How strong? With milk? Do you want a lemon slice? Or is there anything else you'd like to drink? Would you like to have apple essence added? And cookies and cake, which would you like? Or would you like both?”
– stunned!
“Ne, it's very complicated, right?”
Yasuhara smiled; Naru sighed.
“Then what is it you want to ask?”
“This is the thing we wanted to ask!”
Yasuhara replied very sincerely, which made Naru sigh even more exhaustedly.
“... anything will do.”
Oh oh oh! I didn't think that Naru and Lin-san would be captured by tea.
“Incredible! As to be expected of a business man!” (tl/n: J/C tl noted that the original text used the term 'Echigoya (越后屋)' in place of 'business man'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsui for more information about a smart businessman, whose shop was called Echigoya.)
“Sly old devil!”
“It should be earnest, respected man, to be correct!”
