Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7
Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky
Status: Incomplete
50% completed (estimated)
"He was brought away by the gods."
That's what Tamura Obaa-chan said twenty eight years ago, when her husband, the Ojii-san, passed away.
I was only twelve at the time, about to attend middle school the following year.
"It was a cattle mutilation — it must have been.”
From the farewell ceremony, the interment till home, Obaa-chan never cried. At the time, her face could still be called 'Oba-chan,' and there were less wrinkles. But she cried till her face was like now… Of course that'd never happened. For us bystander, she looked unmoved.
Even though it's already dusk, she sat in front of the register and ran the store. The grown-ups all said she's traumatized and pitied her. My brother dragged me there, where we sat quietly and listened to Obaa-chan's story.
“The gods are terrible beings. Unlike with other animals, they never take away the organs, but only the souls of people before leaving the body. Jii-san's body was very much pristine.”
After going to sleep, Ojii-chan never woke up. His face was peaceful, even though he wasn't that old.
The cause of death was unknown. Doctors looked over him, but they never found the reason. Perhaps because of that, Obaa-chan thought he was taken by the gods.
“People are gods' toy, as well as guinea pigs — such cruelty.”
Nii-san silently ate his chocolate popsicle; because the stick didn't say 'freebie,' he frowned — at least that's what he wanted us to thin.
Nii-san, who loved Ojii-chan the most, cried in his futon after making sure everyone else went to sleep. We pretended to be asleep, staring as he sobbed. No one joined him.
Obaa-chan looked up to the alien signature personally forged by Objii-chan. It looked just like the signatures of baseball players I've seen on TV. “Plagiarism.” Obaa-chan grumbled.
At then, I didn't know what to say to Obaa-chan.
Since I had no comment, I merely questioned like usual:
“Are gods aliens?”
Obaa-chan squeezed a face full of wrinkles, either crying or laughing:
“Yes, the gods are aliens. That's why so many things are beyond our control.”
On the day that I woke to that dream, I had turned forty. June 6th, an easily memorized birthday.
“Really...” I used to play the sister character pretty well too! Just kidding! “Uwoahh...” Stiff shoulder in the morning already.
To escape the ceiling of reality, I rolled over on the bed. Ughh, can't move. Must be because of the sore on my leg.
“Ow, ow...” In their competition, the sore of the leg seemed worse than the shoulders'. My calves refused to work, currently boycotting; as if to wake me up, the pain and heat rose higher and higher.
“Towel… Uwoah.” Can't raise my right arm. The upper arm ruined the team formation, obstructing all efforts. Who would have known that the capturing activity from two days ago would show its repercussion today?
“But!” My tongue and jaw doesn't hurt when I move. “I'm seriously getting old.” How could you say that!
“E-easy peasy!” One-legged hop, step, and hop. I lightly… crawled up. After a bit of effort, I rolled to the side and got up on the table. Ughh, my waist… Is this the result of bending my back while stalking forward? I'll take the day off. Ah, but I still have to go feed 'them.'
Perhaps exhausted, I seemed to have woken up at a time that's highly inappropriate for functional adults. Glancing at the clock, I learned that it's past eleven.
Slowly taking off my pajama, I pulled open the pink curtain. Clear lights rare during the rain season suffused outside: it was a sunny day. But the rain was sneaking up. In the forty years of my life, I became disliking of the month. Because, it symbolized the time of separation.
Elliot, Ojii-chan, and even Nii-san becoming a June's groom in a different town— they all counted as departure. Then, there's my age. Especially my age. “Heeyah~” I attempted to intimidate someone with a mantis pose. With nothing covering me, this might be too much for any young men.
“It'd be bad for Mako-kun's growth!” Mm, mm~ I stopped, playing as an educator. If Nii-san visits and gave me a 'I picked the wrong person…' it'd be troubling. So, I treat my niece like a cat.
Clothing finished. Makeup… Whatever. Just give it a good smudge before leaving.
I rummaged through the dressing table and found the pain relief patches. I've been using these too much recently, and I think the smell's transferring onto me. I peeled yesterday's off and slapped the new one on my leg. “Kyah~” The cold sensation made me jump; the feeling is almost becoming a high. Is this patch addiction?
“Okay~” I walked around the room. After getting used to it, I noticed it hurt more when I stand still.
Wandering around, I contemplated. Thinking — my essence, and my all.
Today is Meme-chin's birthday~ Laundry or cleaning, I'm not gonna do it~
“Uwoh~” Imagination. Telling Erio my birthday. “H-happy...” I'm not happy at all!
“Uwoh~” Imagination number two. Telling Mako-kun my birthday. “Oh, happy birthday.” I just said I'm not… Gah!
“Uwoh~” Imagination number three. A cake with forty candles. Because of the abundant candles, it looks like a mountain of swords for flower arrangement. When I blew on the candles 'fuu' the flame set Erio's hair on fire. She rolled in a panic. The table that's been knocked over. The turkey and everyone's faces are messed up. What a tragedy!
“Hnng~” I put my hand up against my chin. “Ow!” The scratches on the back of my hand stung still. I'm not too popular with animals other than humans! I've been bullied before in elementary school by a band of rabbits during feeding duty. My brother, on the other hand, could lead a band with chickens, rabbits and ducks behind him. Is it because of some smell on him? For me, the only smell he has is of home.
“Sniff, sniff...” I tried smelling myself. No old people smell yet. Of course not! Rude.
“Okay~!” Let's think about what to do. Cleaning, laundry, cooking, feeding, working, playing with Mako-kun and bugging people. How should I begin? Having so many chores to pick from, I almost cried.
Alright. I extended both arms like wings and bolted outside:
“First, tease Mako-kun!”
Then I'll think about today's stuff.
After harassing Mako-kun like I promised, I hummed my way out of his room but almost slid off the stairs. Both my mental and physical energy had been depleted; my body had reached its maximum. Due to overusing, my back was as if carrying the weight a bicycle front wheel has to endure. Both my leg and waist were in a pinch. This… is a little… I can't. I didn't want to go out today. It is my birthday, so they'll understand. Mm, I'll take the day off.
But I still have to go to the school… Ugh.
I'll just focus on making the rocket in my room. Prototype number 1 is about to be completed.
Since I've decided, I will now take my special leave. I picked up the phone speaker placed next to the entrance. “Beep, beep, beep.” Although the number's already registered, my fingers still keyed in the memorized digits.
I waited for the part-timer cutie who should be working now.
“...Hello? Looking at this number, is it the manager?”
“Yes~ Actually, I feel like there's something happening today, so I can't move.”
“From what I can understand in that sentence, I'm guessing you're just being lazy.”
“Marvelous! So you'll ace the literacy exam, won't you?”
“Mm~ Well, I think it should at least be better than math...”
“About work, just listen to the substitute manager.”
“… The backup being better than the starter is indeed something worth considering.”
“It's just a name; the management right just so happened to have fallen into my laps! Goodbye~!”
Clank, I hung up. Phew~ I was nervous like during middle school whenever I asked for a leave because I wanted to slack off.
Perhaps due to moving constantly, I've acclimated to the sluggishness of my leg. Now my arm's acting up and I can't get it higher than my heart. Yet I tried to hide the sore from the family. Why? Because it felt lame. For humans, appearance is vital! And not just the inside.
Mm~ An easy life without the usage of arms… Oh right! Bingo~ The bulb shone.
I just need to cover myself in futon. Hohoh, learning something from my daughter, I must be gettin— still young! My learning ability is still ripe! Yahoo! That’s it!
After seeing Mako-kun and Erio, who were going somewhere, off, I went back to my room where the futon was still inside. Then, with the laundry rope, I tied the futon and crawled inside. Perfect. It's warm. It's hot. And stuffy. Is this a sauna? I can't even see a thing.
No, I saw darkness. The remnant of light also drifted in my eyes. The perfect night was absent in the futon. I tried rolling. Easily done; hence I rolled ceaselessly, keeping the speed low out of fear of running into the wall. I thought more about things. But In the end, I ended up being an adult who had to shoulder these burdens.
“Forty~ Sigh...”
What did Tamura Obaa-chan think when she turned forty?
What did the fifteen-year old Erio see in this murk?
What I saw, was the small-scale replay of memories— a time machine.
✩
The afternoon on the following day, Nii-san and his wife called. Their target, needless to say, was their son Mako-kun. If the phone does ring, I doubt Erio, who has no social sense, would pick up. But if it went off during daytime on the days when no one is home, would she answer? If she does, and it's someone I know, how would I explain? I pondered about the scenarios.
Except for some relatives, I hid the existence of Erio. Adults, after all, have things to consider.
After exchanging with Mako-kun, I had him pass me the phone. A familiar breathing came into my ear. That stubborn forty-two years old even breathes with rules. How does he not suffocate?
“...Hm? Makoto?”
“Helo-ine! Coca-ine!” Let's do some drugs first, then do more!
“Sorry, wrong number. I'll check the number, date and person and call back later.”
“Ah, don't hang up! You're just like Mako-kun, hmph!”
“Listen… Are you giving my son a hard time?”
“You used to only talk with your girlfriend for forever, I've always wanted to beat the crap out of you...”
“You're just the same old, huh… It was your birthday yesterday, right?”
“You remember?”
“Of course.”
“So where's that birthday present?”
“Did you know? June 6th is Brother's day. Shouldn't you be giving me something instead?” (TL notes)
“You jerk, I'm gonna give your wife evidence of you cheating!”
“I'm hanging up.”
“Wait, I have a question for you.”
Timing when Erio left the entrance, I cut to the chase.
“Why do you always take so long to get to your point? What is it?”
“Nii-san, you used to scare women away, but not animals, right?”
“I'm hanging up.” Good, she's gone.
“Tell me the secrets to getting close with animals.”
“How would I know? Go feed them with bones or something.”
“You're so cold! Omigewdness!” (TL Notes: Acchonburike あっちょんぶりけ the catch phrase of Pinoko from Back Jack)
“You're so annoying. You have a pet cat or dog now?”
“I even have a pet wild weasel!”
“That's not even a pet! You just wanted animal therapy to avoid facing dying alone as a city grandma, right?”
“Your adorable son is in my hand right now. If you want him back as a virgin, don't mention my age again.” (TL notes: I thought about changing this, but nah)
“Then are you building a Meme animal kingdom? Ahh~… Secrets, huh. Secrets? Was there any?”
“Nii-san, stop thinking and actually say something.”
“You are just so infuriating when you make sense. How about having them open up to you?”
“Where do I open on them?”
“I don't know. Now I'm really lost. Anyway, in simple terms.”
“Mm.”
“Use your head.”
“You're really unfit to be a teacher. Didn't you contributed to national by getting booted off the teacher certification exam?”
“Isn't thinking what you're good at?”
“True, but people al~ways think that I'm not thinking.”
“Must be your face.”
“Ah, cuz everyone's so mesmerized?”
“… Thinking is one good thing you have — take care of it.”
“And the one bad thing you have, Nii-san, is looking down on your sister so much! Make sure you get better with that!”
“I'm hanging up.”
“Mm, I'm going to make dinner too. I'm going to fatten your adorable son and make foie gras out of him✩”
“Before you go, let me give you a bit of advice.” He sudden lowered his voice and sped up.
“Wh~at?”
“Burn the evidence.”
He hung up. Beep, beep, the speaker rung, trying to resonate Nii-san's words.
“I was just kidding.” I grinned satisfactorily.
What will the kindling in my hand burn?
But that's another story.
✩
June 8th, one more day passed. 206 days until New Year, and two days after my birthday.
In the morning, while eating a slightly early breakfast, Mako-kun reported that 'Erio said she wants to work.' I mixed the Natto, giving off the appearance that I was still asleep and pretended that I wasn't listening. What I considered wasn't the will that Erio wanted to work with, but how to get her work. As for the carrying out the act itself, I will hand it to Mako-kun for now.
“I'm heading out!” After eating and preparing, I hollered from the entrance. Erio, who had woken up, charged down the stairs to wave at me with a 'have a nice day.' Erio-chan is such a good girl. Complimenting her being like myself yesterday was the right choice~ Eeheehee. Of course I didn't think that — especially the latter part.
Leaving the door, I went into the storage. Faced with my love ride, my calves continued to twitch painfully; but I lightly brushed it off. Saddling onto the bicycle that was new four years ago, I began to pedal slowly.
Ring, ring! I rung on the bell to raise my morale. Ring ring~ Ring ring~ Ring ring~!
“Shut up!” My niece reminded me from the opened window on second floor. “Was that a whip of love?” With that question, he immediately answered with an indifferent 'It's a whip of death!' He sounded just like my brother when he's young.
“I'm heading out~” I looked to the cloudy sky and waved at him. “Yes, yes, please look ahead when you ride.” Mako-kun, too, lightly waved at me. Mm, Mako-kun's 'tsun' is really hard, just like the rice in our house. If he ever becomes 'dere,’ though, he will never let go. How exciting!
With enthusiasm as fuel, I pedaled toward the store I’ve missed for three days. This wasn’t just starting late because I’m on management, but the privilege of being able to come whenever I want. Thus I didn’t sulk, instead rode on with head held high. Like a bird dancing through the air, I almost gracefully flew into the warning sign of a construction site. Now was not the time for silly mistakes!
Penetrating through the workers and students who were on their way to work or school, I took the back alley to the shopping districts. I used to dash through here — and trip. Even though I was the fastest in the group, I was often also the most oblivious. Thanks to the fall, though, I never ran directly into the street and hence the scooters or trucks along the way. I like to think it's a good thing. Actually, the same applies now as well: the bicycle that moved slowly due to my sore leg just avoided running into an orange moped. We will never know what is truly auspicious for them. Every cloud has a silver lining — the same applies for Momo-tarou’s story. The grandma cried about ‘I don’t wanna go do laundry by the river. I don’t even wanna move! Your turn, old man. Might as well be naked, too! What do we got to lose at this age? Build a new house next to the river while you're at it!’ or something like so to emphasize her laziness; when she unwillingly went to the river, she found the peach. After ten years, the son or grandson born of the peach beat the crap out of the local monster, and they found themselves swimming in gold. What I mean is, the domino of destiny is very intriguing. (TL Notes: Story of Momo-tarou, in which a boy born of a peach flowing down a river defeated the demons on an island with a monkey, pheasant, and dog. His grand/parents are an old couple)
Riding down a short slope, I let my limbs free to enjoy the much anticipated autopilot. The wheels spun successfully today, leading me down the hill like on a slide. It was awesome. Usually, it would swirl around.
After taking the time that’s not even excusable for management, but ghost members, I arrived at the store. I parked the bicycles in the corner of the parking lot and went into the back door. I thought about sneaking in, but in the end I walked in with my chest high.
Inside the substitute manager was already preparing to open. Her dexterous movements dazzled, as if encouraging the eyes that followed her to train hard. Substitute manager, Komaki-chan, noticed my presence and bowed lightly. The hair that poured to her shoulder politely drooped with its owner.
“Good morning, manager. It’s been three days.”
“Yup, it’s been three days for me too. It’s weird, but I think we’re on equal ground!”
“I’m always surprised that your brain doesn’t disagree with how biased its usage is.”
Her tone seemed simply impressed. “Was that a compliment?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh yay~!”
I tried cheering for it. Koma-chan disapprovingly stared at me as if saying ‘amazing.’ But it didn’t last long. She looked back to the work on hand. Because of the serious and dedicated person that she is, this store managed to survive. Or rather, am I still needed?
“Do you want to be the manager?’
Everything is worth a try, so I asked. “No thanks.” Koma-chan denied the promotion without raising a brow.
“The only reason people work hard is because you are the boss.”
You’re good as a negative example. My brother, who failed many of his job applications, complained to me before.
“Thanks to you, boss, the part timer from last month is also very hardworking.”
“Ah, what’s that pretty girl’s name? Uh… I don’t remember at all.”
“What was it?”
The girl’s overwhelming appearance trivialized her other relevant information.
“That aside… So, I’ll keep the title of manager…?”
“Yeah, you have a surprisingly strong presence. That’s not too bad, right? Being the mascot manager.”
“Heheh, then I will keep it. My ex also told me this: using the metaphor of a village with a hundred people for earth and humans, I think you are worth about five people.”
“Those five are definitely not humans.”
Koma-chan grinned wryly and began doing something else. She’s such a diligent sweetheart, yet she only wrote down ‘being sound-minded’ in the specialty part of her resume. “Well, I thought it over, but it’s seriously the only thing I could think of.”
I recall when she said that while scratching her cheek like it was yesterday.
“For someone who skipped work, you look tired. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. But I’m still not going to work.”
That’s right. Koma-chan exaggeratedly nodded:
“So, a boy came here yesterday and asked a strange hypothetical question. Oh, he was a customer.”
“Mm? What was the question?”
“Hypothetically, if half the human were to be eliminated, are you confident that you will stay in the remaining half? He said it was taken straight from the afterword of a novel.”
“Huh. So what did you tell him?’
“’Thank you, please come again.’ Then I handed over what he bought.”
“Was he impressed with how professional we are?”
“Well, he did force a smile.”
I sat down on a chair, elbows on knees, and observed Koma-chan working. Stare~ Stare. “Jiiii~”
“Please don’t pretend to be a cicada indoor.” (TL Notes: the onomatopoeia for staring in Japanese is じいい)
Inspection complete! I am bored. I stood and knocked the chair away with my butt:
“I’m leaving for a bit~”
“Remember to be back before snack time!”
“Ahaha, I will work hard next month! I’m counting on ya~”
Swinging my handbag, I skipped out of the store. I wasn’t even there for ten minutes.
Jumping onto the unlocked bike that seemed to have predicted the outcome of things, I yelled ‘woohoo~!’ and flew onto the streets. The acceleration wasn’t too bad, but my legs were still too flaccid to keep up with the speed. After stabilizing, the wheels finally lost all their initial speed.
The destination, Tamura Shop. Ring ring, clank clank… Sigh~
✩
“Hah… Hah…” Panting heavily since the middle of the trip, I reached Obaa-chan’s house. When I got off, I stood on my toe for a second; like the sports injury drawn in hot-blooded sports manga, my left calve twitched intensively. Ultimately it was solved with a bit of cold sweat. Mm, good thing I didn’t work before coming here.
I looked back to the place that seemed to be the territory of that seemingly stray dog. I’ll find and capture him later.
Insisting on taking on the badly installed door on the right, I finally cracked open a slit that only a slim person like me could fit through after almost shaking the door out of its frame. Though my shoulders were almost stuck, I still forced my way through the opening. As usual, the siren-like doorbell screamed. I raised my head, looking down only after gawking for a bit.
“… Sigh.” Despite waiting, Obaa-chan never came to the front. Maybe she couldn’t. When her legs aren’t doing so good, she can’t get up from her bed; even if she managed to crawl out of the room, she could never make it to the bathroom… No matter how many times I suggested to have a care taker, she rejected the notion.
A hint of disappointment dragged my feet. I took off my shoes and entered the residence. As if the unseasonal snow that fell outside sucked all sounds away, the hallway was deathly silent. The air, too, was frigid, filled with the mien of ruin incompatible with human breathes.
I didn’t knock, directly pulling open the door in the middle of the hall. The pancake laid in the center bulged slightly. Seeing the tiny movement of breathing, I exhaled.
“I was about to go to the store!”
The usual words that sounded like an excuse made me smile. Obaa-chan’s shaky hand appeared on edge of the futon that covered even her head. She seemed to know who the visitor was without looking and said: “Meme, could you put my hand where the glasses are?”
“Yep.” How capricious of her, I smilingly slid next to the pillows. I held her hand and wrist — a thin, wrinkled and untoned wrist.
Despite my eyes deteriorating from age, I could still see clearly how emaciated her arm has become. Despite the bangs that draped and blocked my sight, reality was unabatedly displayed in front of me.
“Your hand.” She slightly squeezed back on my hand.
“Eh?’
“This is a blindfold riddle, right? Too easy.”
She happily guessed on her own, seemingly saying ‘don’t look down on me!’ This granny… Her mouth really doesn’t know the meaning of deterioration.
“Correct.” I praised her first before handing the reading glasses to her. I planned on letting go after putting her hand back into the futon. But Obaa-chan continued feeling my hand. For a second I thought she was writing something, but the trace contained no pattern.
“Obaa-chan?”
“Oh, your skin is still pretty smooth. Looks like you’re doing well.”
You could have just looked at my face!
After a while, Obaa-chan let go and put on her glasses, only peeking out from the futon.
Her lowered face grabbed my attention.
“Why did you come here?”
“To see you, Obaa-chan. Good morning.”
“Hmph, the same thing every time. Since when have you become such a boring kid?”
So from Obaa-chan’s view, I’m still a kid? No, wait! I think I’ve actually been branded the nickname of ‘big kid’ by other relatives! According to rumors anyway.
In other words, I’m still young! Woohoo! That’s right, woo!
“I’m already a grown-up.” But I still have to emphasize.
“Idiot. Grown-ups don’t play around at this time.”
“What about Obaa-chan?”
“Can't you tell I'm working at home?”
“Then I’m also running some errands.”
“You sure can run your mouth.”
Obaa-chan criticized me with the uncongenial attitude of both happy and cynical. She rustled both legs out of the futon, looking just like a turtle with front legs retracted.
“I’m going to do laundry, so I’ll take your clothes for you.”
“Fool, didn’t I tell you to go work instead of taking care of people?
“Or do you want to take a shower?”
“I’ll do that later. For now… Well, talk.”
“Talk…” The chatty Obaa-chan actually handed the job of talking to me.
“My tongue isn’t working too well today.”
Obaa-chan said so with a poker face. I hope it was just a joke.
“…Oh, the town’s animals seem to be disappearing recently.”
I shamelessly brought the topic up. “Wha?” Obaa-chan first scowled, and then understandingly looked away:
“I knew that from a week ago.”
“And it’s still happening! I heard that the stray cats and dogs all disappeared from the town.”
“Hmph. Cattle mutilation, huh.”
Obaa-chan mumbled amusingly. Those were muffled words difficult to understand.
“Oh, there wasn’t any body though!”
“The type that leave the bodies behind is already proven. Mysterious disappearance is always cattle mutilation, has to be.”
She hid both legs back into the futon. Obaa-chan’s smiling face, like that of a young prankster, was the collective of wrinkles. Not a solid sign of energy on there: like a kite, she was held together only by skin and bones. A kite floating in the daily breeze; if the wind were to pick up — and it doesn’t even need to be a gale — it will be torn into pieces, and crash.
“Are you excited?” My eyes hovered in the room as I spoke.
“For what?’
“Cattle Mutilation. The aliens might just be somewhere in this town.”
Obaa-chan laughed, like reacting to a kid saying 'I won't sleep till Santa is here!'
“Even if they are, you can’t see them!”
“Can you really declare something you’ve never seen as invisible?” Even though the phrasing is contradictory.
“They must be here right now. I bet you can’t see them.”
“If I were to rampage through this room, could I wipe them out?” I said so while rolling my sleeve up.
I was actually kind of serious. Perhaps noticing that, Obaa-chan casually pretended to have not hear me:
“It'll be my turn soon.”
“You’ve been saying that since twenty years ago. Is it still true?”
“Hmph… People who have expectation in fools must also be idiots themselves.”
“Uweh?”
“Stop making those disgusting sound. You really haven’t changed; both your face and personality are still off the hinge.”
“Oh yeah. Nii-san always said that I can emit Y*metaran radiation.” (TL Notes: Referring to Yametaran from the Ultraman TV series. Yametaran can emit a radiation that sedate people and make them lazy)
It’s about time for a new topic. I messed my bangs up, sorting out the uncertainly in my voice with a ‘ahh~’
“Obaa-chan.”
“Mm.”
“What did you think of when you turned forty?”
“Forty… Right, your birthday was last week?”
“Eh? Yes.” Before protesting to her about reminding me of my age, I was shocked with how she remembered.
And she even remembered my age.
Obaa-chan’s feet once again crept out of the futon. This time she tiptoed with her tiny feet, advancing slightly. The toes that pressed into the tatami allowed Obaa-chan to move another two centimeters. She planned to leave the room — took me two seconds to realize this.
“Obaa-chan, are you going to the restroom?” I stuck my hand beneath to support her.
“Stu~pid. I was going to give you a present. A snack of your choice on the house.”
“Haha, this brings me back!” Just like old time. Before I turned twelve, was I able to hop joyfully every year?
What’s different now is, I can no longer freely follow Obaa-chan's back.
I put Obaa-chan on my back. I intended to help her anyway.
“I can usually walk; today just happened to be a bad day.” Obaa-chan explained bitterly above my head.
“Yep, I know.” Her voice was raspy. The lips, unstable, felt just like her skins.
“Ah, it’s, uh, muscle sore. I tried to lift a box of cola yesterday, so my waist is sore.”
“What a coincidence! I left work early today because my legs are sore!”
“…You will never be someone who can walk on your own two feet.”
Obaa-chan was reprehensive; my heart only ached.
Even with pained muscle, I did not feel burdened carrying her — Obaa-chan has become so light.
The damp skin festered with pus.
I stopped. Eyes closed. With my tongue as guidance, I deeply, deeply breathed.
I refuse. Someone other than me wanted to use my mouth to say something.
“What? Are you tired? …A certain old man should have told you: where you lack strength and brain, make up with will! Well, not that your will is worth any expectation.”
“Obaa-chan.”
“Don’t tell me to get off, ahahah!” She lost her voice halfway through the laughter.
“I will defeat them.”
“What, your slacking tendencies?”
“No, those are my pets.” Nyahaha~ I glossed over with a laugh and opened my eyes.
Go forward. Then, I thought of something:
“Um… Obaa-chan?”
“Mm?”
“I want to send you a great worker…”
How about letting Erio work here? I think this time, it has to be the best idea.
✩
Weekend, ‘June Twelfth’ was completed. The rocket simply and whimsically named after its day of completion. Just as bad as naming the kid Erio after her father Elliot. But that’s fine, since I’m looking for a man who can say the same thing to me. Actually, forget it.
“Yay~ It’s done~ Boom~”
I lifted the newly born rocket high with both hands and ran around the room. Ahh, being able to relive my childhood… Ugh, the storm of voices nitpicking my words aren’t any less cruel than the usual.
No, no. This is the gap that will excite everybody. Uh, I hope. Pshuu~ ...Mm, since this is a rocket, there shouldn't be any sound after it reaches space. Flying around with no sound does feel a little unromantic.
“Test flight complete.” Next time, I'll use hydro power to test it.
Mako-kun and Erio both stepped out for their ill-prepared job hunt, so the house was devoid of sound and eyes. Since there's no need to be surreptitious, I just walked out with the rocket.
A clear day with patches of clouds. It might rain tonight though. To finish before those two come back, I strapped the rocket tightly on the bicycle's back rack. As for work, I am of course running errands outside again. I even forgot to put make up on, heheh!
I kicked off on the bicycle, in hope that it would finally rid my calves of sore that's finally let up. My destination: the abandoned farm school. I have to take care of the animals and test the rocket.
Ring, ring, clank, clank… Getting there is one thing, but why do I always ring the bell when I ride? Is this one of those 'everyone's seven habits?' (TL Note: The Japanese idiom無くて七癖, literally mean ' has to have seven habits,' which means 'everyone has his particular habits')
Parking the bicycle inside the school around the field with green houses, I detached the rocket after locking up. “Yahoo~!” I charged forward, rocket in hand, like a surfer to toward the beach.
Firstly, break into the school from the door with broken lock. I left the rocket near the hallway's entrance to standby. Stepping barefoot on the lino floor, I felt a moisture that smoothed my feet.
Climbed up to the second floor in a cold air like the one in Obaa-chan's house, I arrived at the office and easily opened its door. They really didn't care about this place, never locking it up since the start.
Even till now, I still disliked the musty air within. I picked up the animal feed on the table and left the way I came. Then I began the caring of animals that are each luxuriously living in their own room.
Each of them were full of spirit, baring their cute teeth to me unwelcomingly. “Open your mind~!” Gulped down with my brother's advice, I tried talking to them — to no avail. The advices that weren't swallowed entirely lodged in my throat. I wasted more time and energy than needed feeding and cleaning the animals, finally, I moved onto the third floor. Up there was the new dog brought from around Obaa-chan's house. Perhaps he thought the classroom's smell was interesting, the dog sniffed everywhere.
On the way up the stairs, I almost heard Nii-san's laughter: “So this is what you 'thought of?” No, Nii-san, I am still thinking. This is only the process! I answered full of zeal.
Heyo~ I greeted the weasel and the dog, got nibbled by them, then fed them.
Due to the food's cost exceeding the prediction, the war of attrition had been difficult. It's about time. With the thought in mind, I brought the rocket here today. The aliens are not in space — they hid in places closer to us.
I put the rest of the feed back in the reference room after taking care of all the animals; on the first floor, I scooped up the bottle rocket laying on the green hallway.
I put on my shoes and dashed to the track field. It may be our first time meeting, but I think it's safe to assume he will not bite me. I mean, he doesn't look like a guy who will try and harm me!
Passing through the walkway between buildings, I moved toward the field where a research building that appeared to be some chemical factory was visible. On the left was a dried swimming pool. When this school was still running, we would make up plans to sneak into the pool during night, and, like preparing for a field trip, we'd get super excited.
But in the end, we never did.
“Excuse me~”
In the middle of the field, the man again prepared for rocket launching today. I gregariously greeted him. Wearing a saggy suit that's broken up with an iron, he looked about my age… Whoa! This dude looks super young! A college senior? Looking for a first job?! If that were true, then I am, naturally, also a beautiful twenty-two years old college student… Awww.
The man looked to be about thirty something, at least. On his right ear was a curious accessory; the 'failing-to-look-younger' fashion accessory drew my eyes, but being trendy is probably the opposite of what people would think of it.
“Whoa!” The rocketeer jumped, stopping his task of pumping the wheel inflator. With no joy of 'a fellow rocketeer hath come!' he, however, didn't actually appear fearful of a suspicious person — his reaction was comparable to a boy who was approached by a cute girl whom he didn't think he had a chance with.
“Nice meeting you! This is my—“ Ah, I wanted to use the business card. But it's something from thirty nine years old! It might end up as age forgery if I gave it to him. Not 'might,' but 'definitely.' Frustration grew.
“D-did you say 'nice meeting you'?” The rocketeer licked his lips while leaning forward peevishly.
“Yes?”
“No, I mean, you're joking, right?” His eyes blinked left and right.
“About what?”
“You're Meme, I mean— Touwa, right?”
Oops, he's got both first and last name right. An old friend?
“I lived here till middle school, so… Do you remember?”
The man fretfully gestured in a panic, begging my past. Why does he look like he's about to burst into tears? Does he want me to use a metaphoric bee on him? (TL Notes: Japanese idiom 泣きっつらに蜂. Literally translating to 'run into a bee while crying.' It's similar in meaning to a double whammy)
“Mm...” I placed a finger on my temple, eyes shut as if praying. Memories now playing. '”When did you last see me?”
“At least twenty years ago.”
“Mm, mm.” I reset the time and reminisced.
...Ah, could he be?
“Yamamoto-kun?”
“Wha—! Even with 'kun' added you didn't get a single sound right!”
“But I probably remember now.”
“Not even my name was included in 'probably…' What exactly did you recall...” Yamamoto-kun (subject to change) hung his head.
“No, I'm not kidding! I almost remember.”
“Ah, then do you still remember Seiji (星耳)?”
Looking up now, he confirmingly asked.
“Yeah, she's my friend.”
“I thought we were friends too…”
As for Seiji, she's a girl my age. She was a friend who moved elsewhere after divulging her pregnancy at highschool.
In the people I knew, she was the smartest, who always played the famous detective in detective games.
“I heard she died, a long time ago too. Did you know?”
“No, I didn't. I see… She's gone, huh.” I felt surprise, but accepted rather easily. Kind of like a mismatched wheel spinning.
I thought about wanting to go to her funeral, but sighed in relief at the realization that I didn't have to see her in the coffin.
Whatever the case is, the gods are all morons!
“Since you know Seiji, then you must be my friend.”
“That's good enough. So, put all of your 'almost' together.”
“A friend who moved out of town twenty years ago.”
“But that's what I just said...”
He looked down dejectedly. I hope he doesn't guilt trip me so much next time.
“Is it because I didn't have a strong presence at the time?”
Laughing weakly, he shot me a stare of anticipation. Should I just go along and laugh with him? It might end up being the fuse to make this Yamamoto-kun collapse in tears.
“Since when were you back here?”
I put up a nostalgic attitude and questioned. Considerate Meme, activating.
“Just last month. I quit my job and came home.”
Tricked into a seemingly normal conversation, Yamamot-kun grinned. As if under the control of habit, he pressed on the inflator, once again pumping air into the bottles.
“Oh, by the way, I'm single.” So~ what!
Abruptly, a 'moo' echoed in the field. I turned to search the origin, but no movements in sight matched the sound.
“An animal?” It still seemed a little too rough for them.
“Yeah, isn't the barn over there? There still a cow in there.”
Yamamoto-kun pointed toward the campus at a direction that's different than where I usually come in. I didn't know about this. I have, however, seen runways for horses there.
“Sometimes I feed it when I'm shooting rockets here. Taking care of animals is actually pretty interesting!”
“You'll get healed!” Like, with claws and such.
“The part where you can't understand each other all the time is the best. Humans are too easy to understand, so it's boring.”
He concluded like he's reached some culmination of human relations, nodding contently:
“So what are you doing here? Don't you work?”
“I ran into something. Also, I want you to help me with this rocket.”
I came looking for the rocket-shooting weirdo; only, surprisingly, the other person (seems to) knows me.
“Oh, sure. I'll give ya a hand.”
Yamamoto-kun reached both hands out to receive.
“So, why do you shoot rockets here?”
“Uh, eh… Oh, it's kinda like a hobby! Since I don't work anymore, I have a bit of time… Uh...Hm.”
He put his own rocket on the side and took mine suspiciously:
“I love space, so I play with rockets. Hm, that's it.”
“Oh~” As dubious as the motive seemed, I'm not particularly interested anyway, so I let him off.
“Oh yeah. I've never see her, but I heard your daughter is, uh, interested in space?”
“Eh? Yes, she is.”
So he even knew about my kid? With what he said about Seiji, he's pretty well-informed for someone who just came back last month.
“What a coincidence, me too.”
“You just told me that.” Does this Yamamoto think I'm senile?
“Just as I thought, there's a lot of people who like space here, huh.”
I don't. Not since the funeral twenty-eight years ago.
“So why are you shooting rockets, Touwa? Are you interested in m— Uh, I mean, is it your hobby…?”
“It to defeat them.” I declared, peering over the field.
Yamamoto-kun gawked at my forehead, and then patted on his waist twice:
“Defeat… who?”
“The aliens.”
“...With a bottle rocket?” He looked down to the rocket in hand.
“At least it'd do better than get rid of cats, right?” (TL Notes: A popular belief is that plastic bottles filled with water confuse or scare cats)
“These can't even hit airplanes though. Do these aliens ride around on bird?”
Yamamoto-kun smiled wryly with head cocked, but still agreed to help with the launching. His movement was concise, very well-trained. He has been nimble since before… Has he? Mm, I don't recall.
He picked up the hose dragged from the water fountain and injected water into the bottle; he then suddenly energetically pumped the air. So there's still water here even though it's abandoned.
Yamamoto-kun finally finished preparation and kneeled down in front of the launch platform.
“You are… just far enough from the rocket, good.”
“Yep.”
“Then… Look closely, here we go.”
“Yep.”
“Three, two, one…!”
Zero. As I finished counting down inside, the rocket soared.
The shaken-carbonated drink forced out, boiling and recoiling.
With the stream pushing, the bottle brought with it dust from the ground and drove toward the sky.
Its path wasn’t straight, instead wriggled left and right. Perhaps, that was why it could never reach its apex.
Compared to Yamamoto-kun’s rockets, which I often peer at, the altitude wasn’t nearly enough.
However…
“It’s way faster than my Salamander (name I just gave for my bike)!”
Being able to see something going up at such a close audience, I was slightly moved.
“Isn’t it cool?”
Possibly because of being able to share the same happiness with someone else, Yamamoto-kun grinned excessively. Mm, his smile is not quite composed enough though. I think a more collected face is manlier.
“But that rocket wasn’t very stable, probably because the wing sizes were different.”
While feeling joyous, Yamamoto-kun calmly observed me — he probably got used to watching me.
“Hoh, so I need to research a bit more!” For the sake of assassinating the aliens.
I retrieved the rocket that, despite being blown around by the wind, finally landed in the campus. Yamamoto-kun, too, followed for some reason, his hands scratching the back of his head:
“Yeah, but someone actually makes better rockets than I do. Ah, in this town I meant.”
“Oh~”
“So, uh… Where’s Elliot?”
“Elliot? He’s not here anymore. I don’t know where he is.” With his family, he moved again.
That reminds me, I’ve never meant Elliot’s family. They had never come during parents visit days, and whenever I went to his house, he had always told me they were working or out shopping.
“I’ll make more rockets, so please shoot them for me!”
“Uh, sure, but…”
“Also, I have a favour I need to ask of you.” Good timing. It kind of felt like the guidance of fate.
“Oh, what is it? I can pretty much do anything for you! Yeah, I’ll make it come true, so just leave it to me.”
So just why did he fluster? It seemed like he was trying to convey how reliable he is with every word in that phrase. Question marks popped up in my head.
“Psst, psst…” After I requested the dubious Yamamoto-kun, ‘what?’ I met his upset face. “No?” I tried to push him further with a fawning look.
“Well, uh… Fine! I get it. And it has to soon?”
“Yay~ Thanks! …Then, goodbye!”
“Yeah…”
We both waved vaguely at each other— “Touwa— I mean, Meme-cha—san!”
“Yes?” I hollered strangely as if calling me out for a duel. I turned.
“Uh, so… What I wanna say is… Would you… I mean, before… Or rather… Right, I have to be direct.”
He squirmed around like a girl, his toe drawing circles. Huh, that’s creepy. He’s like a bear pretending to a rabit.
“…What is it, Yamamoto?”
“I’m not Yamamoto!”
“Eh~ So what is your name—“
“Marry me!”
“ W H A T ? “
My conscious was cut into eight separate lines. My, Meme doesn’t understand a lick of it.
…Can’t I use ‘don’t understand’ to deal with this situation?
Without the help of the crepuscular sun, Yamamoto-kun blushed furiously. As for m-me...? How would I know!?
Disregard the cow mooing in the background.
Air circled my throat: I had nothing to say.
June 12th, eleven thirty, AM.
A man whose name I didn’t even know proposed to me.
✩
Except for before and after Ojii-chan’s funeral, I never really went to the store with my brother anymore.
Nii-san made more school friends after he turned fourteen, and he couldn’t always come to the store. I’ve always thought that this was the line between being an elementary and middle school student. At the time I was in sixth grade, and I already had the hazy feeling that it was going to the last year I could keep going to the store. Elliot, too, was thinking the same thing, huh.
Elliot was a foreigner of my age. There was a huge house around where my family’s apartment was; he was the boy who lived there, and also almost every girl’s crush.
Elliot was a handsome boy; when he had just moved here, no one suspected him of a plastic surjer— surgery. He moved here with his family when he was six: he explained so when we just met. At the time, I thought he was the aliens that Tamura Obaa-chan and Ojii-chan were talking about.
His mysteriously colourless hair capable of reflecting all sorts of hue depending on the angle shot particles out lavishly — it was as if shining snow hid within. He had lucidly clear (although if it really was transparent, it'd be like a walking human model), pale skin, as well as defined and elegant features unlike the local's.
It's almost strange that he wasn't displayed in front of a train station like a statue.
Meme-chan, meaning me, fell in love with him on the first sight. I could rightfully say that he was my first love. Luckily, I became his first friend. Though we didn't get any further until a decade later. Interestingly and surprisingly, Elliot's first love didn't come to fruition.
I think the only person, in the past of future, who could dump Elliot would be Seiji. According to her, Seiji said 'she disliked the part of Elliot that's like an alien' — hearing the comment, Elliot could only give a bitter smile of kindness.
Right after hearing that, I almost transformed into a monster, screaming every night: “Gwaahh! What a waste!” But twenty years since then, even I wonder about what sort of problem he had, considering that we aren't living together now. Well, I think I just couldn't see his flaw when we were young.
The twelve years old me and Elliot walked together to the grocery store. Just walking next to him was enough to make me lose calm. I anticipated that, maybe, if I absorb some of his bangs-particles, I'd become prettier. Heheh, not that I needed it! (Twenty-one year old me, debut!)
A month after Ojii-chan passed away, Obaa-chan restlessly ran her shop. A lot of older customers filled the store the week following Ojii-chan's funeral, but now was just the usual.
Seiji sat outside on the bench flipping through a novel. A bottle of ice water sat next to her, condensation covering it. Elliot happily talked to her while I quietly stared at the scene. As for the current me who's ruminating at the moment, it should just be deep contemplation.
I wonder— would Seiji still be alive, had she accepted Elliot's confession at the time and stayed here? But if that happened, Erio would never have been born, and that'd be problematic— my family, after all, is my main supplier of happiness points.
Enter the store, the siren-like device above the door would scream. I liked the feeling of a secret base it created, so I always looked to it. “Welcome.” Obaa-chan coldly greeted. “Hello.” Erio and I responded together. I noticed, starting from that time, that Obaa-chan already didn't look well. Yet, I never brought it up with anyone else.
Elliot headed first to the drinks, while I the snack shelf. Since I promised dad that I'd only buy one snack a day, I deliberated. Spinning around the shelves, I nudged other people away. Eventually I casually made it to Elliot's side to eave drop on them, and, with some hope, join the conversation. Whenever I had the chance, I would always sneeeeak up next to Elliot.
He and a few other boys stood in front of the glass door of the fridge, pulling on each others while chatting.
“We make fireworks around here. Oh~ Well, meaning we sell fireworks! You've seen my dad's fireworks at last year's festival, right Elliot?”
“Yeah, I did.” Elliot nodded softly. And then, another boy followed:
“My parents sell flowers, especially for funeral stuff. Like when someone's grandpa died, I send flowers to them… Uh, that sounded bad.” Yeah, it sure did!
Elliot replied with a confused smile. On the other hand, I noticed how both topics talked about flowers. (TL Notes: Firework 花火 literally translates to flower-fire)
It's then Elliot's turn to say what his family does, but he grinned, calling it a secret. “I don't really know either~” Once again he delivered smoothly, but it seemed like an excuse. Every time the topic of family is mentioned, Elliot would always gloss over like that. At times like such, even his distinctive presence would dissipate..
But forget about that; with Elliot as the center, the boys prattled. I could never butt in.
Ugh, it's one thing that boys are getting along, but I remember being rather infuriated. Though angered as I was, I still went back to pick my snack. Vent with sweets! I actually had no clue what that meant at the time, but eating delicious snack would always calm me down.
When I couldn't decide, I would usually pick smaller snacks. I don't remember the name, but I'd pick the pea-sized square candies. They were green or pink, and the texture was like mochi or gum while tasting sweet. I loved eating little squares with the toothpick that came inside. (TL Notes: Kozakura mochi. Little square wagashi packaged like tablets)
With the plastic package in hand, I ran next to Obaa-chan. “I want this~” I handed it to her. “Alright, alright.” Obaa-chan then tapped on the register.
“Mm? What happened to your hand?”
Obaa-chan tilted her head questioningly after seeing my right hand. “Mm~?” I followed her to my finger tip. “Ah~” I remembered: “It was a cat. The grey one Nii-san brought home. It scratched me when I tried to touch it~”
“Hoh~ Again? Animals just hate you, don't they?”
“I know~ It's kinda funny.”
“Anyhow, you always buy the same thing. Have you grown to an idiot who likes to remember only one thing?”
“Eh~ I'm not an idiot. I got a hundred on a quiz last time.”
I paid before taking off my shoes and climbing next to Obaa-chan. She didn't say anything, only silently letting me sit there. Her wrinkled hands roughly rubbed my head:
“No, you are. All you need is to look at your parents' faces.”
“You're just messing with~ me~” I opened the package casually tightened by a rubber band.
“Smart kids will never come here.”
As if deprecating herself, Obaa-chan spoke with a twisted smile:
“Kids come here because they're stupid— once they grew smarter, they stop coming. As for fools like grandpa who never grew up, they inherit this kind of store. It's my parents' stores, so he could have just left it to close.”
“Ahwu!” I sensed that it sounded like Nii-san, dampening my spirit: “I'll keep coming here! Even when I grow up, I'll still al~ways come.”
“Stupid. You have to work properly when you grow up… Well, it's my turn soon.”
“Soon? Do you want one?” I skewered a piece and passed it to Obaa-chan's mouth.
'Don't want it' Obaa-chan brushed me off, and as if giving up, mumbled:
“Cattle mutilation.”
A tiny explosion occurred in my eyes. I recalled— they were the words Obaa-chan mouthed after Ojii-chan's funeral. She had yet to cease her self-mocking tone:
“Your grandpa and I are the same age. Following that order, shouldn't it be my turn soon?”
“Eh~ You can't!”
I pushed against Obaa-chan's hand, waving my hands raucously, the snacks dropping everywhere.
“Even if you want… But gods use alien technologies to hide themselves, so we can't see them; hence there is nothing we can do.”
Obaa-chan's words softened; rather than from kindness, it was more dejection.
Contrastingly, my emotion hopped from all sorts of angles. I looked up, seeing the mustard coloured-face that lacked circulation of health.
“Uwah, wuu~ I-I will take care of that cat-whatchamacallit!”
“Hoh~ How?”
Obaa-chan smiled maliciously as if asking a landmine-question.
My tine brain couldn't think of anything, so I could only moan 'wu~wu~.' Grumble, then conclude. “I donno!” Due to brain cells being squashed, I gave up on thinking.
“See~ You are stupid.”
“But, I don't wanna Obaa-chan to be gone~ I~ don't~ wanna~!”
“Fine, fine, thanks for that! Stop kicking the floor, you're going to break it!”
Obaa-chan thanked hastily and patted my head. It wasn't my problem, but I almost cried. The imagination filled me with more loss than Ojii-chan's funeral.
“Mm, if you really want to do something, then think well. Think so well that even the toilet seats would move first. Even an idiot could come up with something after contemplating. Grandpa was also an idiot, but he'd always come up with some weird idea after two days of thinking.”
“...Wuu~”
“Why not just defeat the them?”
The usually tranquil and calm voice interjected abruptly. It was Elliot.
Putting a bottled drink worth of coin on the register, he smiled at Obaa-chan and me.
Facing the smile, Obaa-chan humphed while my heart raced.
As if to confirm, Elliot said it again.
'Why not just defeat the other?'
Maintaining that warm expression, he stated the simplest solution.
Then Elliot put the cola bottle next to his lips and chugged down.
Thinking about these things, I passed out in the bath.
A preposal, I mean, proposal. I escaped home and hid in the bathroom's tub. Why? I don't know why I hid in the tub. I was shaken, and before I realized it, I'm already viva non-non-ing in the hot water. (TL Notes: A reference to the song いい湯だな, nice hot water, of Japanese band 'The Drifters.' Viva non-non is chant between verses)
I left the bathroom, boiled. Boiled~ spoiled~ spoiled. I lied down wearing nothing and crawled on the floor, enjoying the chilling sensation. It felt great on my burning skin, but the coolness left immediately, so I dragged on body forward. Gecko crawl~ go back the way I came after reaching the entrance. The distance drew on and on~ Returning to the changing room, I stayed on the floor and put on my underwear and pajama.
“Gotta get up, gotta get up… Whoa~” Blinded by the eye patch that was my own hair, I finally stood up with my left eye covered. My soles singed the floor; my skin bloated by the water, feet shambling as if five or six bees were kept within. With my head rubbing against the wall, I dove into the living room. Wham~ While sliding inside, the tip of my nose burnt from the friction. Uh, my nose would be even flatter.
Out of such fear, I only my head up with chin on the floor, mimicking Obaa-chan to propel myself forward with only my toes. Squiggle~ Having a longer-than-predicted reach is good, but my boobs hurt more than I had thought. Ow… Obaa-chan is flat as a— wait, what am I thinking?
Ultimately I crawled on my knees, grabbed the remote sitting on the table and collapsed on the floor again. Arm forward, press the button. 'Beep!' On a certain replayed film, a certain someone is about to marry a certain someone. Turn it off; back on again, and change the channel. The show was about making a low-calorie fried pork-steak. I gawked at the golden hue of the meat; the worm in my stomach growled like a new species of animals.
“Ughh, I don't wanna cook.” As an emergency measure, I switched the channel. On the screen now was a teaching program; I joined the speech practice midway. “A~ B ~ C~ D~” Which reminds me: Elliot didn't speak anything besides Japanese, but his accent was still weird. His nationality was unknown.
“...Ugh~”
I dragged myself to open the cabinet. A moist wave of dust rose; the tapes were still stacked there. We don't have a machine for DVD in this house, so let the tape do the spinning.
Shoving the tape into the player, I picked up the VHS remote on top of the TV. “It's been a while!” I almost didn't even remember how to use it. After a few random clicks, the tape successfully played. I jellied again; affected by the still-present heat, my organs refused to calm. Even lying on the floor was a sort of hell.
The movie that we've only seen as children at the movie theater began playing on screen. I, Elliot, Seiji, and a few others biked to see the movie. My brother was going to join us, but he got sick and stayed in our apartment. And when the film was broadcasted on TV, the entire family watched together. I'll save this topic for another time.
Left eye glued to the floor's fiber, I watched the screen change with only my right one. Yet whatever entered my brain was the movie and darkness. The left eye didn't see what it should have.
Forgive me! I was kidding when I said I'm super popular, and now I have to actually answer to someone. Wu… Hnng… So, this is what Yamamoto-kun said?
“Marry me!”
I regurgitated the lyrics with a sicking consonant. I almost went mad from the embarrassment:
“...Really?”
Thinking back, this was my first time proposed to. Of course I'm freaking out! Of course!
“Even if it's by some guy I don't know… Well, I probably knew him?” Not that I remember a thing.
How nerve wrecking! Should I just reject him? But more basically, do I plan on getting married now? With whom? Yamamoto-kun? Elliot? No, not Elliot; I don't even know where he is. Also, more importantly, I don't think it'd work out. Elliot is an abnormally exquisite art: he has a proper location, a fitting place to exist and a position right for him. In any case, that place is not here. Still, for me to just welcome Yamamoto-kun with open arms is just as impossible.
After all, I've only wanted to live with no one else but Erio. I don't have the confidence to let someone else in. As for Mako-kun, he's just like my kid. To treat someone completely unrelated as family — I am abnormally resistant against it. Wu~ My stomach is starting to hurt from thinking so much in circle.
This… I was wondering about if my happiness points are going up or down, right?
But I still have to think. Because, this is how I walked all the way here.
“...Sigh.”
What should I have done instead when facing the Erio who'd escaped into the futon?
Perhaps I should have told her: 'think.' Not just once, but as many times as I have to.
If I had taught her well, she might still be a high schooler now.
I've always regretted in my life. Even when I achieved something, I could never feel wholesomely happy.
“...Meow~” I tried doing a duet with the cat on screen.
But I hope I could resolve the situation now without any regrets.
After a while, Mako-kun and Erio returned as my brain reached boiling point.
'Go find Obaa-chan!' I licked him knees after instructing so, finally regaining my spirit.
It's strange, but Mako-kun always motivates me!
...If I were to say that, I wonder if he'll let bygones be bygones?
The following week consisted of repeating days with the standard of June this year.
One day, I snuck into Tamura Shop to see how Erio's doing at work. Even though no one came on the first day, she's still freaking out. The moment I walked in, she bolted out frantically and tripped. Her nose started bleeding, so I wiped the blood away and stuffed her nose with a tissue paper.
What a worrisome child! That is, however, what made her so adorable.
After that happened, Erio prohibited from coming into the store. 'Absolutely… no!'
'I'm… going back to… society!' She violently shook her head while saying 'don't come in… Don't come in… You can't!' Forming a barrier with her arms.
I thought about breaking this blockade by hugging it tightly, but this was no game for Erio. Hence, I decided to hold myself back — can't always try to interlope.
Even though the promise made it hard for me to see Obaa-chan, perhaps it is better this way before the preparation on this side if finished.
But knowing that Mako-kun could enter freely, I just had to bully them that night ☆
And, despite this being an information I happened upon on the following day, I heard that that Yamamoto-kun was purchasing a large amount of coke and visiting the store at a rather frequent rate. Knowing that before running into him was definitely helpful. So that, along with the hope for Erio, I decided to watch the store when nobody noticed. And I could also prepare for Yamamoto-kun meanwhile — two birds with one stone!
Then comes the night when I shut myself in a room to make bottle rockets. Following Yamamoto-kun's advice, I adjusted the tail fins. To make the four wings equal in size, I had to trim carefully. Staplers, scissors, box cutter, double-sided tapes: the tools scattered on my desk were all purchased from Obaa-chan's store long ago. Do I cherish my things? Or maybe I just don't use them?
Back when Erio was still in grade school, we made many rockets together; so without referring back to an instruction, my fingers remembered most of the steps. We also had some unused nozzles and PE rocket heads put away in the storage, so I didn't have to spend money. My Eri-chan has always been interested in flying objects since she wore diapers — she's quite full of wings and dreams! Uh, to a point where her brain was floating around for a while. Please do excuse her for that!
The most annoying part of making rockets had to be finding bottles. Even if you need only five bottles, our little Mako-kun doesn't like carbonated drinks: he wouldn't do his mission like a good little fairy if I were to leave those in the fridge.
How did Yamamoto-kun get his bottles? I didn't want to come across as a jerk-off either by having him test fire, so I've never progressed beyond making the rockets.
For the remaining time, I would occasionally show up to work at my own store. Yep, perfect. Just like summer vacation's daily schedule, it's never to be followed. I recall back in elementary, a classmate wrote 'stayin' alive' for all twenty four hours on his daily schedule. After turning that in, he got a detention and was scolded by the teacher. We didn't know till later that the kid was actually terminally ill and don't have many days left; the teacher showed up at his door covered in tears. The kid died… I think on the June the year after that. Everyone in class showed up for his funeral, so I remember. Ah, June again? Indeed a month of separation.
And so I stood near the Tamura Store on the Saturday of the following week as the sentimental Meme-san. For some reason, there was a lot of customers gathering today. I noticed two dubious shadows. A girl about Erio's age, and a middle-aged man living out his youth.
Including me, the three people hid in the shades to watch the Tamura Shop. Why did so many UFO show up in our peaceful town? Did someone with a human-repellant force these people out?
Just as the 19th of June began inviting the rain, I blew air at the young girl's neck. It's more appropriate here than with Yamamoto-kun, right? Under my goose bump-inducing breath, her entire person jumped with an amazing reaction. 'Keewah! She seemed completely oblivious of my presence.
The girl's boots gave, almost sending her butt-first into the puddle; I reached forward and helped her up. Her wrist pulsated quickly, and her eyebrows too blinked intensely.
I poked her soft cheeks — it was a very cute girl. I recognize her from somewhere. Was she Erio's friend? She didn't seem to know me though.
After introducing myself, I casually handed the cola I'd been sipping on to the girl. It would be a waste not to. Heheh, a successful transfer. I was about done with the taste of cola anyway. I don't like carbonated drink that much, because Meme was raised properly. When we lived in the apartment, I drank only barely tea.
Without further ado, I asked the girl to tell me where Yamamoto-kun was while prattling. I told her that he was actually my fan, but perhaps he now wanted to observe Erio. Yamamoto-kun knew I have a daughter, so could he plan on getting on her good side? Is this considered sly, or shameless? What on earth did he learn after leaving town?
After contemplating about the enigma of Smooth-skinned sensei, she yelped, 'ah!' with her pupil contracting. The girl looked toward the store as if she'd discovered something. To avoid Yamamoto-kun I hid myself more completely than she did, so I could not see the situation behind the concrete wall.
“Then, I must get going!” The girl bolted off after few stretches. “Bye~” I saw her off; Yamamoto-kun's silhouette replaced her.
“Uwah...” Like an orchestra, the sound of rain dropping off the yellow umbrella played out above my head.
Should I try talking to him to get friendly? No~no. Just thinking about that is going to make me collapse. Putting it on as a number, it's about 80. Usually I have about 3. Now, imagine using a decagon screwdriver on a tri-point screw. What I mean is the number will fly up.
And just standing around to talk is weird. Problem is, if I was invited to a cup of tea, I will definitely suspicious. Definitely. For the pure Meme-chan, she has no immunity to that kind of open relationship. I haven't even been vaccinated… Eh? The script? I'm suppose to say 'JK' here? Oh, leave me alone. Shove off, Manus Dei~. (TL Notes: Original text was 'the hand of god.' Manus Dei means the same thing in Latin)
“Wuu… Mmm~” Out of confusion, I started dancing. The rain poured and poured~
I've slightly regained composure. Thinking is vital, but there's only physical after this point.
Yamamoto-kun looked around under his umbrella, appearing to be searching for something far away. Probably me. If it were Erio, he would have already entered the store.
I looked away from him. I'll give up on today's monitoring.
On the way home I found a cat. After abducting it into the school, I decided to go home.
A corner of my heart hoped to never see Yamamoto-kun again in town.
Rather than tea buddies, we were more like rocket comrades.
And we will duel on the field! Yes!
“...Hnm?”
Something seemed off, but I couldn't figure out what part of that was wrong.
“Was it the age?” I mumbled, as if tracing the parts I don't want to admit with the tip of the words.
I saw something in the grey sky — the scene of important things entering the morgue.
☆
On the day twenty-eight years ago that led to everything today.
Like divulging the secret of a magic, Elliot smilingly spoke.
To defeat what you can't see is actually very easy!
It was a smile that would look snide on others, but artistic only on Elliot.
“Defeat? How?”
I pulled my head away from Obaa-chan's palm and leaned forward. Though my hand crushed the green snack I dropped, the light pain was tossed aside when I questioned Elliot.
Obaa-chan looked at me in boredom, silent.
Elliot sipped the cola and asserted calmly.
The only way to touch which you can't, is through faith.
'Face?' I shut myself up before saying a thing.
Ritual and prayers are needed to show faith.
Elliot claimed so maturely — the only time he seemed older than Nii-san.
“Ritual?”
Hearing the word only made me think of people in purple robes with only their eyes flashing red, hiding in dim room filled with incense, singing and dancing.
And prayer reminded me of the poor girl in W*rld Masterpiece Theater who had to sleep in the staple, but would never forget to pray every morning.
“Religion?”
So I asked, and he laughed. “I don't really understand either,” he shrugged: “I'm just observing to see if the things I see are really worth believing.”
With the smiling pushing up his eyes, he stared. I felt like I was being devoured.
Goose bumps pushed open the paint on his arm, showing his true nature. But of what? Of his… Elliot's eyes.
He has a gentle face, but all that contoured his features were straight line. The natural existence of curve was not there.
Obaa-chan's palm touched my frozen back and pushed lightly:
“And more importantly, pick up your mess. If you don't clean up, I will charge you for a fee!”
“Aye, aye.” I imitated the cartoon character on TV and received a smack on the head.
Picking up the snack on the floor, I tossed them into my mouth.
“Don't eat off the ground, stupid!”
Pah! Another slap. “Owwu!” Thought it didn't hurt, I still grabbed my head.
“Go wash them afterward. It's dirty here.”
“But this is your house, Obaa-chan!”
“That's why I know.”
A flick on my forehead, but this time the nail hurt me.
“Obaa-chan, cut your nails!”
“Hmph, try again when you're older than I am.”
“I~ can't~!”
Seeing the exchange, Elliot beamed again. Seeing his squinting smile, my heart took the initiative to practice aerobics. “Hah, hah...” My chest hurt! It's more of an explosion than a jolt, like receiving a ball from a major league softball player.
“Oi, don't go all colourful here.”
“I-I'm always colourful!” (TL Notes: Original text indicated a Japanese proverb/idiom regarding first love, which apparently is synonymous with colouring. I could no find it as of yet)
I put the food back into its box and ran inside. Submerging the snack in water, I also rubbed and cooled my hand. “Phew~ cool.” I hate the feeling of heat. I like winter more than summer. At least I can stand the cold.
At least at the worst, I just have to roll around in the futon.
After cleaning up and drying off, I returned to Obaa-chan. “Oi, it's dripping.” The sharp-eyed Obaa-chan reminded me, but I still carelessly sat next to her while and ate away happily.
Nom, nom… After the wash, it tastes like gum with no taste. It would seem that this kind of food only has flavour on the outside!
“…...”
Even with that flavour faded, I still tasted Elliot's statement in my mind.
To touch what you can't see, you need faith. To show that faith, you need 'ritual and prayer.'
☆
