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Kure-nai - Volume 1 - Chapter 2.10

Published at 24th of February 2016 07:12:17 PM


Chapter 2.10

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Volume 1
Chapter 2-10

After school, as Shinkurou headed to the shoe rack it seemed that nearly everyone had already left. Shinkurou stopped by the newspaper club’s room so that he could look at the paper that he had left there during his lunch break. Shinkurou read the newspaper and then realized, “society is overflowing with trouble.” As far as Shinkurou was concerned he had work because of this; he may have even been slightly delighted by this. After all he made a living off of others misfortune. Jobs such as dispute mediation were not what one would consider very admirable trades. Ginko being angry with him was in no way unreasonable.

Shinkurou, having changed his shoes and left the school building, squinted as he emerged into the crimson of the setting sun. The soccer club members yelled energetically as they ran around on the field. They all played sports in this cold weather. Shinkurou watched them practice for a short while, seeing them replenished his own youthful energy. From watching them he was able to confirm that he had not yet become that kind of high school student. “My life is good,” said Shinkurou, praising himself a bit. He then headed for the school gate.

Shinkurou let out a yawn and then as he walked he thought back on recent events.

At first Shinkurou was uneasy about Murasaki, who had barged into his comfortable solitary life, though she turned out to not be much of a hindrance upon his life. Shinkurou had given Murasaki one strict order; “do not leave May Rain Manor by yourself.” In return, Murasaki demanded that once Shinkurou returned home from school he would take her on a walk; with that one condition Murasaki obediently stayed within May Rain Manor’s grounds. It seemed that while Shinkurou was gone Murasaki had mimicked Yamie by climbing up into a tree; read a manga that she had borrowed from Tamaki and played video games. Shinkurou thought about how when he was younger he would spend most of his time playing outside; because of this Shinkurou figured that Murasaki must be much more obedient the he was.

No, that’s probably not true…

As Shinkurou watched fallen leaves dance in the wind, he began to think more on the matter.

Murasaki seemed completely okay with staying in such a cramped space. Everything she brought with her was male clothing; the only thing that wasn’t was the dress from when we first met. Based on that I can understand why she can be so energetic but even in someplace quite, she can enjoy the silence; she has that kind of mature flexibility about her. Is that something she was born with; or is it something that she learned later on? She said that she did not go to school; maybe the Kuhoin family lessons included sewing.

She is not all that different from a normal child, was what Shinkurou honestly believed.

For example, food.

“Shinkurou, I dislike bell peppers”

“I dislike picky children”

In that case, without her knowing, Shinkurou compromised by finely chopping them up.

Another example would be when she had to go to the restroom in the middle of the night.

It would be late at night and she would lightly smack Shinkurou on the face repeatedly to wake him up and then as if it were a matter of great importance order him.

“Accompany me to the restroom”

There were numerous fluorescent light in May Rain Manor’s halls however even during the day it was dark and even more so late at night; so it was understandable for a child to be afraid.

“It is not what you think. This does not mean that I am scared. This is not related to me being scared at all. So do not suspect me of being so”

Murasaki franticly explained herself to Shinkurou; he put on his jacket and took her to the restroom. Then Murasaki took care of business and Shinkurou waited in the hallway. As Shinkurou endured his drowsiness in the cold hall, he recalled his past experiences and found himself, among other things, felling nostalgic.

Well in it’s own way this is probably good for her.

The question is, who is after her.

There’re a lot ways that she can be kidnapped or killed. I can’t afford to be careless.

Shinkurou passed through the school gate; as he walked along his usual route home he looked to the sky. The clouds had grown darker than before.

“It’s probably going to rain…”

“Yes. The weather forecast claimed that it would rain this evening”

Shinkurou recognized the young voice that he heard.

Confused, Shinkurou turned around and there stood Murasaki. Murasaki, in front of Shinkurou who was too surprised to speak, had a curious expression on her face the said, “Hm, so this is a school” as she looked up at the school building. She was dressed in a typical boy jacket and shorts. Was this some kind of disguise? She also wore a baseball cap.

“…Wha, What do you think you are doing coming all the way here!”

After taking a deep breath that was all that Shinkurou could say.

Shinkurou had not told her where Seiryou academy was.

When asked, Murasaki calmly answered.

“Tamaki brought me here”

From what Murasaki told him it seemed that when she told Tamaki about her interest in school Tamaki said, “Then I’ll take you” and then brought her all the way here. Shinkurou had not told Tamaki that he was guarding Murasaki; Tamaki’s intentions were probably good but it was rather bothersome.

“Honestly, I told you not to leave May Rain Manor…”

“You said not to leave by myself. Therefore, if I am accompanied by someone all is well is it not?”

“Well that…”

“I thought that Tamaki was a woman whom I can trust, was I mistaken?”

“No you’re not but…”

“Shinkurou, show me the inside immediately. I wish to see a classroom”

“There’s no way that’s happening”

Shinkurou looked around; there did not seem to be anyone around at the moment. It was late; was he happy that there were not that many students around?

“So, where is Tamaki?”

“She said that she was going to go watch a movie. She said that she was going to watch something called a poruno movie”

That perverted woman…

Tamaki’s interests were in various types of manga and bad B-movies that had adult content. Her room was filled with various comics, questionable imported movies and DVD’s scattered all over the floor. Just how many times had Shinkurou helped her clean up her room because it was just so messy? Shinkurou did not wish to remember, as all he could do when helping was avert his eyes from everything that he saw.

Tamaki probably had just brought Murasaki along as she ran her own errands. Tamaki was nothing but trouble however there was the one thing that was her saving grace. Her personality was a problem however as a martial artist she was worthy of respect. If Tamaki were accompanying Murasaki then she would be even safer than if she were with Shinkurou. Even with that being the case, Tamaki wandering off to that place that she always goes was not okay.

If Tamaki came home Shinkurou would give her an earful. He would not lend her rice for a while. While swearing this to himself, Shinkurou urged Murasaki to start walking. Murasaki continued to request that she be shown around the school, but once she saw that Shinkurou showed no intention of listening to her she reluctantly obeyed him. The two of them walked to the train station without saying a word and then rode the train while still saying nothing. Because there were empty seats Murasaki sat down and then immediately turned her back towards Shinkurou and looked at the scenery outside of the windows. From what Shinkurou was able to see of her profile, it seemed that her mood had lightened some. A quick conversation to exchange their feelings would help.

“You’re not going to come to the school again are you? Of the things that I worry about…”

“Trains are convenient however the seats lack any level of comfort”

Murasaki ignored Shinkurou’s scolding and continued to enjoy looking out the window.

Shinkurou figured that he ought to speak more strictly because Murasaki showed no signs of remorse; as he hesitated, Shinkurou heard the boisterous conversations in the other train cars. When he took a closer look he found that it was from the priority seats. There was an old woman sitting down and being harassed by three young men. It seemed that their search for seats had been fruitless and thus they decided to have the old woman vacate the priority seats so that they could sit there. Was this kind of selfishness really what modern day youth was like?

The yelling of the young men echoed inside of the train car.

“Grannie, can’t you tell that we’re tired! Can’t you see that we want to sit down!”

“Hurry up and stand you old hag! There’s no problem with being a little considerate is there!”

“We loose our tempers real easy, so don’t be stupid or we’ll kill you; I’m serious”

The old woman’s face went completely pale. She tried to stand up though it seemed that her legs were weak as she reached for her cane her movements were very slow. One of the youth grew impatient and pulled the old woman away from the seat. The young men looked at the old woman as she fell onto her back and howled in laughter; one of them then kicked the woman’s cane that had fallen beside her, sending it flying across the car. After doing so they laughed once again.

The other passengers looked at the young men reproachfully but when the young men looked their way they all looked away. If one going to get involved in something unprepared; he or she should at least be prepared to loose. If the situation were to lead to a fight both parties would be at fault and treated the same; they seemed like the type who had already received a criminal record. Shinkurou was angry but he simply closed his eyes. The passengers had considered the benefits and losses of being involved and did not even so much as help the fallen woman stand up.

So it’s like that thought Shinkurou.

Shinkurou felt in his heart that his reasoning was just. Justice, in reality did not exist.

Therefore it was up to people dispute mediators make it one.

Shinkurou took this train to school and did not want to stand out however he had not been taught to ignore situations like this during his training. It seemed that there was a way to settle things peacefully; thus Shinkurou stood up though a small person passed his field of vision. Shinkurou took off running towards the three youth, by which Murasaki had taken the place where Shinkurou was meant to be. Before long Shinkurou came to a stop; Murasaki pick up a can, which had been discarded in the train, and threw it at one of the young men. Murasaki missed her target however and the can hit the window, but the young men having taken notice turned towards their small assailant.

“…What is it, brat?”

As they looked at her with intimidating stares, Murasaki did not falter.

Murasaki hit one of them on the back and then made a brazen statement.

“You should be ashamed!”

Her voice suited for commanding and rebuking resounded throughout the entire car. It was a voice suited for conveying ones intentions. Was this due to her Kuhouin blood as well?

Murasaki continued as the young men stood in embarrassment.

“You knaves are already this old and what have you learned! You do things such as tormenting the weak in groups; you are the lowest of the low as a human; your actions are deplorable!”

Shinkurou admired what she said but it did not seem to get through to the young men. There faces showed that they felt a cheeky brat was preaching to them.

“Shut up with all that screaming brat”

“I’ll hit you. I’ll hit you real hard”

“Hey, where is this brats parent! Come out!”

Their harsh words resounded in the car and Shinkurou came running from where he was.

Shinkurou then immediately tried to come to an ideal solution for the problem at hand.

“I am her guardian, I am terribly sorry!”

Shinkurou grabbed the back of Murasaki’s head and made her bow with him.

“Please forgive her. She is still small and is ignorant about many things”

Shinkurou covered Murasaki’s mouth when she tried to give a discourteous rebuttal and continued to bow. Shinkurou felt that outside of work he should avoid resorting to violence. One reason was that Shinkurou believed that a professional should not use their strength outside of work. Another reason was emotions.

“I am truly sorry. Please let this pass and forgive her”

As Shinkurou gave them an insincere smile he bowed several times. Shinkurou understood why his legs began to faintly quiver. He could not stop. Why could he not stop?

“Show us your back”

They saw Shinkurou’s legs shaking and laughed scornfully, one of them then spit on Shinkurou’s face. The spit, which reeked of nicotine, clung to Shinkurou’s face; nevertheless Shinkurou’s forced smile did not disappear. The other two seemed as if they were going to also spit on Shinkurou’s face but the train began to slow down and they stopped. It seemed that the current stop was where they were getting off.

“He’s not worth our time”

They lightly pushed Shinkurou’s head and then left the train as they laughed. Right after they left the doors closed and the train began to move again; afterward Shinkurou took his hand off of Murasaki.

“Don’t be so rash will you. Think a bit before…”

“I was performing a righteous act, what is necessary for me to think about! It is troublesome to be in the company of such a coward! It is excessively irritating”

“It’s obvious…”

“Then what was that from before!”

“That?”

“That atrocious smile of yours”

Shinkurou gave Murasaki a cold stare and then shut his mouth as if he had lost the argument.

Was Murasaki referring to Shinkurou’s forced smile just now?

Shinkurou, who had an astonished look on his face, let out a breath from his nose and then Murasaki squinted her eyes as she looked at him.

“You may be knowledgeable about the world but I hate things such as what I just witnessed. Smiling just to earn someone’s favor, it is sheer stupidity. Do you enjoy it Shinkurou? People smile because they are amused. People smile because they are happy. There is nothing to lead me to believe that the disgusting smile that you showed those men was genuine. The evidence has disappeared”

“Don’t say whatever you please,” said Shinkurou with a bitter smile.

Giving an insincere smile had been Shinkurou’s strong point when he was younger; it had allowed him to avoid trouble numerous times. It seemed that acting like a coward had become a habit of his. Even now Shinkurou was fairly good at faking a smile. He did not want to think too much about the reason for this.

Murasaki was honest. So honest that she was scary. So honest that she was annoying.

However it was unpleasant.

She pointed out everything precisely; in this respect she was no different than a childhood friend.

Could it be that Murasaki’s rash actions earlier had actually pleased Shinkurou?

He could not do such a thing.

Murasaki held her hand out to Shinkurou, who had remained silent.

“Use this”

In the palm of her small hand was a beautifully embroidered white handkerchief. It was probably for him to wipe the spit off of his face. Because it seemed so expensive, Shinkurou hesitated to use it; Murasaki grew impatient and then shoved it into his chest.

“If my servant is dirty then it puts my character into question, does it not?”

I see, thought Shinkurou as he thanked her and took the handkerchief. He then came to understand one thing. She did not say those things earlier because she was angry; in fact it was the opposite. There were no other reasons. Her words were used for the exact same reason. There was not even a spec of lies mixed into her words. That frankness was pleasant.

Despite using an insincere smile so often, why would I expect sincerity from other people…?

As Shinkurou bitterly smiled once again due to his selfishness, he wiped his face and then the old woman gave him a humble thank you. I didn’t do anything, you should be thanking Murasaki, said Shinkurou and then a happy smile rose upon the old woman’s intensely wrinkled face and she gently stroked Murasaki’s head. Murasaki was surprisingly not annoyed by this and smiled.

As Shinkurou watched the two he realized something.

Despite brushing away Shinkurou’s hand, for some reason she did not get angry when Tamaki, the liquor store owner or the old woman touched her. The answer was the old woman’s smile. Tamaki, the liquor store owner and the old woman all had naturally happy smiles. However when he and Murasaki first met, Shinkurou received her with an insincere smile. Murasaki probably hated this kind of deceit. From a child’s standpoint it was not wrong to not want to be touched by someone like that.

As a matter of fact that was what is called a child’s honesty.

Murasaki and the old woman sat down together and Shinkurou stood nearby while holding onto one of the train straps.

Shinkurou then stroked his own face.

What could be so disturbing about my smile? Is it because it’s fake?

Why can’t I smile naturally? I think there was a time when I could smile for real.

Being able to smile, why did it become so awkward to talk about once I became aware of it?

These were the things that Shinkurou thought about.

It may have been because he was missing something.

It was from that time when he experienced a loss that took everything from him.





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