HanTsuki:Volume 1 Chapter 3 - Revision history

Rxls at 17:55, 14 May 2018

2018-05-14T17:55:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:55, 14 May 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Chapter 3 : The Road to the Turret Mountain==		==Chapter 3: The Road to the Turret Mountain==

	[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]		[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]

Pudding321: hundred km

2014-02-02T01:21:03Z

hundred km

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 2 February 2014
Line 230:		Line 230:
	But, truth be told, I didn’t.		But, truth be told, I didn’t.

	When we finally reached the foot of the Turret Mountain, the facts proved that I really didn’t. The Turret Mountain, formally called the Dragon Head Mountain, was a small mountain of around a hundred ~~kilometres~~ high. There was a path leading to the peak, which was quite an easy, soothing path. Yet the path wasn’t paved. Our scooter could go up, but we had to keep our speed minimal. As a local, I was certain of this. Therefore, once a road with scattered pebbles appear in front of us, I would tell myself, “Okay. We’re there. It’s about time we decelerated.” The only problem, however, was that my numb hands couldn’t turn my thoughts into action immediately.		When we finally reached the foot of the Turret Mountain, the facts proved that I really didn’t. The Turret Mountain, formally called the Dragon Head Mountain, was a small mountain of around a hundred metres high. There was a path leading to the peak, which was quite an easy, soothing path. Yet the path wasn’t paved. Our scooter could go up, but we had to keep our speed minimal. As a local, I was certain of this. Therefore, once a road with scattered pebbles appear in front of us, I would tell myself, “Okay. We’re there. It’s about time we decelerated.” The only problem, however, was that my numb hands couldn’t turn my thoughts into action immediately.

	It’s bad. The scattered pebbles were getting closer. I managed to move my hands, but I couldn’t employ any force. Helpless, I gripped onto the handle and forcibly grounded the car to a halt in slowing speed. As a result, before the speed had dropped to the expected level, our scooter had rushed into the pebbled road. And at that moment, the front tyre knocked into a fist-sized rock.		It’s bad. The scattered pebbles were getting closer. I managed to move my hands, but I couldn’t employ any force. Helpless, I gripped onto the handle and forcibly grounded the car to a halt in slowing speed. As a result, before the speed had dropped to the expected level, our scooter had rushed into the pebbled road. And at that moment, the front tyre knocked into a fist-sized rock.

Simon at 19:20, 7 July 2013

2013-07-07T19:20:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:20, 7 July 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~'''~~Chapter 3 : The Road to the Turret Mountain~~'''~~		==Chapter 3 : The Road to the Turret Mountain==

	[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]		[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]
	===== 1 =====		=== 1 ===

	The night...		The night...
Line 190:		Line 190:
	Perhaps, the permanence of our journey was marked with an ending point.		Perhaps, the permanence of our journey was marked with an ending point.

	===== 2 =====		=== 2 ===

	The wind was chilly. The safety helmet I was wearing was not the ones that would cover my whole head but only the ones that crowned my head. Two green lines ran over the helmet, with the imprinted words, “Shimada”. Anyway, the blowing, chilly wind soon froze my face. Still, I didn’t care a bit. Rika’s hands were still clasped around my bellybutton, and the touch of he arms felt certain. I could feel Rika behind me as well as her warmth. Therefore, I didn’t care a bit.		The wind was chilly. The safety helmet I was wearing was not the ones that would cover my whole head but only the ones that crowned my head. Two green lines ran over the helmet, with the imprinted words, “Shimada”. Anyway, the blowing, chilly wind soon froze my face. Still, I didn’t care a bit. Rika’s hands were still clasped around my bellybutton, and the touch of he arms felt certain. I could feel Rika behind me as well as her warmth. Therefore, I didn’t care a bit.
Line 322:		Line 322:
	A while later, I remembered Tada.		A while later, I remembered Tada.

	===== 3 =====		=== 3 ===

	It happened a great long time ago. I still remember it was the time when I was still prohibited to meet guests. Back then, I wasn’t adapted to living in the hospital and wasn’t capable of sneaking out of the hospital. Anyway, I was bored to death. Staying in the ward of prolonged periods of time had nearly suffocated me, putting me in distress. It felt exactly like living behind the bars in a jail. As such, I wanted to breathe some fresh air outside and often ran to the rooftop. On one day, when I went to the rooftop as usual, someone was already there—Tada. He sat beside the water tank, facing the sun. He looked like a large tortoise bathing in the sun. Upon seeing me, he would grin and smile, much like a large tortoise.		It happened a great long time ago. I still remember it was the time when I was still prohibited to meet guests. Back then, I wasn’t adapted to living in the hospital and wasn’t capable of sneaking out of the hospital. Anyway, I was bored to death. Staying in the ward of prolonged periods of time had nearly suffocated me, putting me in distress. It felt exactly like living behind the bars in a jail. As such, I wanted to breathe some fresh air outside and often ran to the rooftop. On one day, when I went to the rooftop as usual, someone was already there—Tada. He sat beside the water tank, facing the sun. He looked like a large tortoise bathing in the sun. Upon seeing me, he would grin and smile, much like a large tortoise.
Line 394:		Line 394:
	It was still autumn, and the air not yet chilly. The vague, blue sky stretched far and wide into the horizon. The contours of the clouds were indistinct, probably because of the rain yesterday. The heavy air felt damp, clinging to some watery smell. It was an autumn encouraging the desire to eat Pacific Sauries. Tada, still vigorous and living back then, was gone now.		It was still autumn, and the air not yet chilly. The vague, blue sky stretched far and wide into the horizon. The contours of the clouds were indistinct, probably because of the rain yesterday. The heavy air felt damp, clinging to some watery smell. It was an autumn encouraging the desire to eat Pacific Sauries. Tada, still vigorous and living back then, was gone now.

	===== 4 =====		=== 4 ===

	The moon, flashing and sneaking up on us intermittently, moved in an exactly prearranged fashion. Before I had come to my own senses, I had already softened the push on the throttle. The scooter decelerated slowly, the sharp, intense engine sound being devoured by the surrounding silence and blackness, returning to utter silence.		The moon, flashing and sneaking up on us intermittently, moved in an exactly prearranged fashion. Before I had come to my own senses, I had already softened the push on the throttle. The scooter decelerated slowly, the sharp, intense engine sound being devoured by the surrounding silence and blackness, returning to utter silence.

Pudding321 at 00:07, 25 June 2013

2013-06-25T00:07:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 25 June 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Chapter 3 : The Road to the ~~Fort~~ Mountain'''		'''Chapter 3 : The Road to the Turret Mountain'''

	[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]		[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]
Line 38:		Line 38:
	“What?”		“What?”

	“Didn’t you say you could prepare yourself mentally if you go to the ~~Fort~~ mountain? If this is the case, then it’s simple! Let’s head to the ~~Fort~~ mountain.”		“Didn’t you say you could prepare yourself mentally if you go to the Turret mountain? If this is the case, then it’s simple! Let’s head to the Turret mountain.”

	“Now?”		“Now?”
Line 218:		Line 218:
	‘We’re almost there’ was what I wanted to say. I had no idea whether she could understand what I had said, though, but she seemed she could, as she nodded.		‘We’re almost there’ was what I wanted to say. I had no idea whether she could understand what I had said, though, but she seemed she could, as she nodded.

	I gave the throttle a stronger kick. Speeding wasn’t an issue now since I didn’t have a driving license to begin with. Besides, the two of us were sitting in this scooter.<ref>In Japan, scooters are prohibited to carry passengers.</ref> Right, we were done for should we be caught, for we were violating any rule outlined. So I decided to travel at full speed to the ~~Fort~~ Mountain, as it seemed the best strategy.		I gave the throttle a stronger kick. Speeding wasn’t an issue now since I didn’t have a driving license to begin with. Besides, the two of us were sitting in this scooter.<ref>In Japan, scooters are prohibited to carry passengers.</ref> Right, we were done for should we be caught, for we were violating any rule outlined. So I decided to travel at full speed to the Turret Mountain, as it seemed the best strategy.

	I drove into the curved road gingerly as I paid attention not to swing Rika out of the scooter. I had to decelerate, but my hands, ungloved, were frozen and numb, and my reaction at the moment was slower by half a second. The speed felt a bit too fast, and a cold streak of nervousness streamed from the depths of my heart. Rats. I couldn’t turn back. Rika sensed it as well. She clasped her hands tightly around my waist. Nevertheless, we managed to pass the curved road. The back tyre slipped and made an annoying wheezing sound.		I drove into the curved road gingerly as I paid attention not to swing Rika out of the scooter. I had to decelerate, but my hands, ungloved, were frozen and numb, and my reaction at the moment was slower by half a second. The speed felt a bit too fast, and a cold streak of nervousness streamed from the depths of my heart. Rats. I couldn’t turn back. Rika sensed it as well. She clasped her hands tightly around my waist. Nevertheless, we managed to pass the curved road. The back tyre slipped and made an annoying wheezing sound.
Line 230:		Line 230:
	But, truth be told, I didn’t.		But, truth be told, I didn’t.

	When we finally reached the foot of the ~~Fort~~ Mountain, the facts proved that I really didn’t. The ~~Fort~~ Mountain, formally called the Dragon Head Mountain, was a small mountain of around a hundred kilometres high. There was a path leading to the peak, which was quite an easy, soothing path. Yet the path wasn’t paved. Our scooter could go up, but we had to keep our speed minimal. As a local, I was certain of this. Therefore, once a road with scattered pebbles appear in front of us, I would tell myself, “Okay. We’re there. It’s about time we decelerated.” The only problem, however, was that my numb hands couldn’t turn my thoughts into action immediately.		When we finally reached the foot of the Turret Mountain, the facts proved that I really didn’t. The Turret Mountain, formally called the Dragon Head Mountain, was a small mountain of around a hundred kilometres high. There was a path leading to the peak, which was quite an easy, soothing path. Yet the path wasn’t paved. Our scooter could go up, but we had to keep our speed minimal. As a local, I was certain of this. Therefore, once a road with scattered pebbles appear in front of us, I would tell myself, “Okay. We’re there. It’s about time we decelerated.” The only problem, however, was that my numb hands couldn’t turn my thoughts into action immediately.

	It’s bad. The scattered pebbles were getting closer. I managed to move my hands, but I couldn’t employ any force. Helpless, I gripped onto the handle and forcibly grounded the car to a halt in slowing speed. As a result, before the speed had dropped to the expected level, our scooter had rushed into the pebbled road. And at that moment, the front tyre knocked into a fist-sized rock.		It’s bad. The scattered pebbles were getting closer. I managed to move my hands, but I couldn’t employ any force. Helpless, I gripped onto the handle and forcibly grounded the car to a halt in slowing speed. As a result, before the speed had dropped to the expected level, our scooter had rushed into the pebbled road. And at that moment, the front tyre knocked into a fist-sized rock.

Pudding321: yuuichi

2013-06-15T13:32:57Z

yuuichi

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:32, 15 June 2013
Line 108:		Line 108:
	We dispelled our way of walking on our knees and started to run normally. Rika was the only one I had in thought. When I turned my head, I saw her dashing with the greatest speed she could pull off. I didn’t know whether it was fine for her to do that, but Tsukasa, on the other hand, was certainly fine. Behind Tsukasa was Akiko, looking at us in fury, running towards us imposingly. And a cracking sound came from a distance not afar.		We dispelled our way of walking on our knees and started to run normally. Rika was the only one I had in thought. When I turned my head, I saw her dashing with the greatest speed she could pull off. I didn’t know whether it was fine for her to do that, but Tsukasa, on the other hand, was certainly fine. Behind Tsukasa was Akiko, looking at us in fury, running towards us imposingly. And a cracking sound came from a distance not afar.

	~~“Yuiichi~~! Stop now!”		“Yuuichi! Stop now!”

	I-It was horrifying—too horrifying.		I-It was horrifying—too horrifying.
Line 286:		Line 286:
	Liar.		Liar.

	~~“Yuiichi~~. It’s you who told me that you would bring me there.”		“Yuuichi. It’s you who told me that you would bring me there.”

	“...”		“...”
Line 488:		Line 488:
	For some time, both of us kept silent, staring at the village in front of us. This way of observation showed the beauty of this place, but perhaps since it was bathed in the moonlight, it was reeking with a vague, dreamy ambiance. The fire-alarm tower and the wondrous old station were left here. The large building in the front was the cultural exhibition. I could also see some contours of the shopping street completely left desolate today. The side at the station bounced off silver rays from the moonlight. Situated at the heart of the village was a great, vast darkness—the forest of the Ise shrine.		For some time, both of us kept silent, staring at the village in front of us. This way of observation showed the beauty of this place, but perhaps since it was bathed in the moonlight, it was reeking with a vague, dreamy ambiance. The fire-alarm tower and the wondrous old station were left here. The large building in the front was the cultural exhibition. I could also see some contours of the shopping street completely left desolate today. The side at the station bounced off silver rays from the moonlight. Situated at the heart of the village was a great, vast darkness—the forest of the Ise shrine.

	“Eh. ~~Yuiichi~~,” said Rika, at last.		“Eh. Yuuichi,” said Rika, at last.

	“What? What’s it?”		“What? What’s it?”
Line 550:		Line 550:
	Having cried for a while, Rika became quite lively. Nevertheless, signs of sorrow that hadn’t been wiped were still stained on her cheeks. Every time I noticed them, I would remember the feeling of having Rika in my arms and her petite body.		Having cried for a while, Rika became quite lively. Nevertheless, signs of sorrow that hadn’t been wiped were still stained on her cheeks. Every time I noticed them, I would remember the feeling of having Rika in my arms and her petite body.

	“Hey. ~~Yuiichi~~.”		“Hey. Yuuichi.”

	“Yeah?”		“Yeah?”
Line 606:		Line 606:
	In some strange way, I felt her expression hinted regret.		In some strange way, I felt her expression hinted regret.

	“You brought me here because you haven’t a father as well, ~~Yuiichi~~.”		“You brought me here because you haven’t a father as well, Yuuichi.”

	I thought I heard a screeching sound, a sound exactly the same when Tsukasa approached me with kittens in his arms. Probably it was the sound made from wheels turning in the wrong direction.		I thought I heard a screeching sound, a sound exactly the same when Tsukasa approached me with kittens in his arms. Probably it was the sound made from wheels turning in the wrong direction.
Line 620:		Line 620:
	“I’m...I...”		“I’m...I...”

	~~“Yuiichi~~?”		“Yuuichi?”

	“I...”		“I...”

Pudding321 at 12:44, 15 June 2013

2013-06-15T12:44:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:44, 15 June 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Chapter 3 : The Road to the Fort Mountain'''		'''Chapter 3 : The Road to the Fort Mountain'''

			[[Image:Hantuki01_157.jpg\|thumb]]
	===== 1 =====		===== 1 =====

Line 129:		Line 129:

	At that moment, Tsukasa, kneeling on one of his knees, showed a sign of cheering for us with his left hand; His right hand forced a big thumb, exactly like an authentic wrestler. Then, with that pose, Tsukasa grinned.		At that moment, Tsukasa, kneeling on one of his knees, showed a sign of cheering for us with his left hand; His right hand forced a big thumb, exactly like an authentic wrestler. Then, with that pose, Tsukasa grinned.

			[[Image:Hantuki01_167.jpg\|thumb]]

	His words had directly been sent into my heart...directly sent into my heart.		His words had directly been sent into my heart...directly sent into my heart.
Line 427:		Line 429:

	Hanging the safety helmet on the rear mirror, I stretched out my hand, and Rika held onto it. Holding hands, we began to walk. She was staggering, the knee part of her pajamas dyed in crimson; the blood seemed still flowing out. Rika’s face would often twist in pain, but we didn’t stop. Without any hesitation, we entered a path resembling a monster’s intestine. The winter in this city wasn’t that cold, as the warm current flew from the south. Yet today was exceptionally chilly. The breaths we heaved froze right in front of us, leaving a streak of whiteness bathed in rays, which, after painting a mark upon our eyes and our hearts, faded gradually.		Hanging the safety helmet on the rear mirror, I stretched out my hand, and Rika held onto it. Holding hands, we began to walk. She was staggering, the knee part of her pajamas dyed in crimson; the blood seemed still flowing out. Rika’s face would often twist in pain, but we didn’t stop. Without any hesitation, we entered a path resembling a monster’s intestine. The winter in this city wasn’t that cold, as the warm current flew from the south. Yet today was exceptionally chilly. The breaths we heaved froze right in front of us, leaving a streak of whiteness bathed in rays, which, after painting a mark upon our eyes and our hearts, faded gradually.

			[[Image:Hantuki01_189.jpg\|thumb]]

	We continued forward, our hands clasped together. Our footsteps, one by one, marked our advance. We didn’t take too much time, around ten minutes. Should Rika’s feet unwounded, we would need less than five minutes presumably. Once we brushed away the leaves of the fir trees, which still maintained their bright, vivd green colour despite of the winter, a fascinating site met our eyes. The new open site before us were much smaller than that we were before, about just half of that. This place was untouched, though, and the weeds were everywhere, the branches and bushed growing in all directions upon their own wills.		We continued forward, our hands clasped together. Our footsteps, one by one, marked our advance. We didn’t take too much time, around ten minutes. Should Rika’s feet unwounded, we would need less than five minutes presumably. Once we brushed away the leaves of the fir trees, which still maintained their bright, vivd green colour despite of the winter, a fascinating site met our eyes. The new open site before us were much smaller than that we were before, about just half of that. This place was untouched, though, and the weeds were everywhere, the branches and bushed growing in all directions upon their own wills.
Line 517:		Line 521:

	The half moon glittered. So did the Sirius. The brightness shone upon us.		The half moon glittered. So did the Sirius. The brightness shone upon us.

			[[Image:Hantuki01_197.jpg\|thumb]]

	When the wind blew, Rika’s hair would sway along. Her strands of hair reflected the silver moonlight, shimmering. I could barely smell the aroma of shampoo.		When the wind blew, Rika’s hair would sway along. Her strands of hair reflected the silver moonlight, shimmering. I could barely smell the aroma of shampoo.

Pudding321 at 12:38, 15 June 2013

2013-06-15T12:38:32Z

Show changes

Pudding321 at 11:58, 15 June 2013

2013-06-15T11:58:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 15 June 2013
Line 388:		Line 388:
	“Listen. You have to stand strong till the end. Only with this in mind can you get through any predicament in your way. If you give up and do nothing, then you’re the biggest idiot ever.”		“Listen. You have to stand strong till the end. Only with this in mind can you get through any predicament in your way. If you give up and do nothing, then you’re the biggest idiot ever.”

	Wasn’t the idiot he was talking himself? On a side note, why do adults around me like to say these lines? At that moment, my father’s lines rang in my mind: “You’ll meet a girl you love ~~not long after~~. Listen carefully: you have to safeguard her.”		Wasn’t the idiot he was talking himself? On a side note, why do adults around me like to say these lines? At that moment, my father’s lines rang in my mind: “You’ll meet a girl you love in the near future. Listen carefully: you have to safeguard her.”

	It was still autumn, and the air not yet chilly. The vague, blue sky stretched far and wide into the horizon. The contours of the clouds were indistinct, probably because of the rain yesterday. The heavy air felt damp, clinging to some watery smell. It was an autumn encouraging the desire to eat Pacific Sauries. Tada, still vigorous and living back then, was gone now.		It was still autumn, and the air not yet chilly. The vague, blue sky stretched far and wide into the horizon. The contours of the clouds were indistinct, probably because of the rain yesterday. The heavy air felt damp, clinging to some watery smell. It was an autumn encouraging the desire to eat Pacific Sauries. Tada, still vigorous and living back then, was gone now.

Saganatsu: added references tag

2013-06-12T05:23:59Z

added references tag

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:23, 12 June 2013
Line 393:		Line 393:

	===== 4 =====		===== 4 =====
			<noinclude>
			=== References ===
			<references/>
			</noinclude>

Pudding321 at 04:21, 12 June 2013

2013-06-12T04:21:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:21, 12 June 2013
Line 321:		Line 321:

	===== 3 =====		===== 3 =====

			It happened a great long time ago. I still remember it was the time when I was still prohibited to meet guests. Back then, I wasn’t adapted to living in the hospital and wasn’t capable of sneaking out of the hospital. Anyway, I was bored to death. Staying in the ward of prolonged periods of time had nearly suffocated me, putting me in distress. It felt exactly like living behind the bars in a jail. As such, I wanted to breathe some fresh air outside and often ran to the rooftop. On one day, when I went to the rooftop as usual, someone was already there—Tada. He sat beside the water tank, facing the sun. He looked like a large tortoise bathing in the sun. Upon seeing me, he would grin and smile, much like a large tortoise.

			“Son,” he would call me, “do you have a girlfriend?” <!-- rough translation -->

			He kicked off our conversation with such a question. I bet everything in his mind was just girls.

			I was stumped by the question.

			“N-No...”

			...or should I say...

			“I didn’t have the opportunity...”

			I remembered myself murmuring such words. Back then, I didn’t really have a chance to chat with my grandfather, so I was completely ignorant on how to get along such creatures called old people.

			A that time, Tada must have been laughing silently in his heart.

			“Argh! How can that be? Isn’t this too lonely?”

			“Hahaha. Yes.”

			“How about Akiko?”

			“What?”

			Hearing his shocking words, I couldn’t help making a sound.

			At those times, I had already known deeply of Akiko’s scariness. The day before that, I was dripped by her three times in a row. Not to mention, when I was playing on the wheelchair, she threw me as well as the wheelchair upside-down, seriously injuring my waist. Sometimes, when I was curious and stretched my hand into a morgue to peek, she would sandwich my head with the door and bully me. That woman knew no limits to her torture.

			“No thanks,” I rejected melancholically, remembering the pain in my wrist, waist, and head.

			Seeing me like this, Tada smiled.

			“She’s more than the looks. She has her adorable aspects.”

			“A-Adorable?”

			“Yes, very adorable.”

			What was this old guy spewing? Or was it that the word ‘adorable’ meant differently in Tada’s old place? Perhaps the people there would say ‘adorable’ when they meant detestable’ or ‘abominable’.

			“Akiko’s really a nice lady.”

			“Oh...”

			“My first love was a girl like Akiko. It dated back to the times wen Japanese A6Ms were chasing America’s B29 bombers. Right. It was around Showa 17 to Showa 18.<ref>AD 1942-1943</ref>”

			It surprised me to hear Tada talking about stories all of a sudden, but after listening further, I found the story quite good. Tada’s first love (who was said to resemble Akiko) was the daughter of the leader of a distinguished village—old Ms. Tome. No, back then, Tada wasn’t yet an old tortoise but an real, living teenager—Kura. Therefore, Ms. Tome had to be a pretty lady at those times. Anyway, Tada and Ms. Tome fell in love with each other. Allegedly it was an intense and feverish love. Because of the disparity of their social status, this type of love was rare in the society. The two of them had to find meeting opportunities by sneaking into shrines or toilets, comforting their souls through these discrete moments. When departing, they would, reluctant to leave, have their watery eyes soaked in tears. It was also alleged that Tada was filled with passion and eagerness to safeguard the love he and Ms. Tome shared. By the way, there was a time and age of A6Ms, bamboo rifle, the daughter of the leader of a distinguished village, Tome, and Kura. It was an exploding age. It was inexplicable to hear that these things happened only fifty to sixty years ago. Or should I say I was stumped. Things like the leader of a distinguished village were extinct in this day and age.

			“But...” said Tada, his face now drawn with wrinkles, “our disparity in social status was too huge after all.”

			On one day, Ms. Tome was married to a navy captain. The marriage was completely arranged by her parents, paying no single heed to the daughter’s will. An even shocking thing was that, on the day following their marriage, the captain went to the front lines. Allegedly he came back safely, but the whole thing was odd and messed up. If he had been dead, what should Ms. Tome, crying in tears dismally when being married, do? Wouldn’t she immediately become a widow?

			“This departure was the worst I had to withstand in my entire life!”

			Moved, I nodded in awe at Tada’s words.

			“Yes. It sounds really desperate.”

			The story was quite touching, pushing me to the verge of my crying. Right. At that time, I still hadn’t understood that Tada was a super, extravagant liar. In retrospect, whether there was someone called Ms. Tome remained a mystery. Even if there was such a person, I wouldn’t think they had the relationship Tada talked about. Wouldn’t fishermen claim their lost fish bigger than what they actually were? At least this was what I reckoned, for Tada said this afterwards: “Son, if you meet a lady you favour someday, don’t hesitate and charge right up. Also, don’t give up. Men have to be determined. If you give up, you’ll just lament for the rest of your life.”

			Maybe, Tada hadn’t told Ms. Tome what he really wanted at that time. Probably he gave in for the disparity of their social status. Then, he lamented...lamented even to his eighties. Of course, this was only my personal imagination.

			“Listen. You have to stand strong till the end. Only with this in mind can you get through any predicament in your way. If you give up and do nothing, then you’re the biggest idiot ever.”

			Wasn’t the idiot he was talking himself? On a side note, why do adults around me like to say these lines? At that moment, my father’s lines rang in my mind: “You’ll meet a girl you love not long after. Listen carefully: you have to safeguard her.”

			It was still autumn, and the air not yet chilly. The vague, blue sky stretched far and wide into the horizon. The contours of the clouds were indistinct, probably because of the rain yesterday. The heavy air felt damp, clinging to some watery smell. It was an autumn encouraging the desire to eat Pacific Sauries. Tada, still vigorous and living back then, was gone now.

			===== 4 =====