Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2

Chapter 2 - Peering at First Love

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Q: Select the appropriate words to fill in the blank

[ ] x [ ] x [ ] = [ ]

[Maekawa-san]

[Childhood friend Yoshino]

[Princess Kaguya]

[Written charms]

[Dyed hair]

[Going places on a scooter in a storm!]

[Continue to cosplay]

[Lady at the beauty salon]

[179.9cm]

[Memory of a summer]

Let's dye my hair. The sudden thought popped in my head.

So let's head to the hair salon after lunch without studying first, on the Sunday before the final exams of the first semester. I usually ask the neighbourhood old lady for a five-hundred-yen haircut, but since she's the type who doesn't even like dying white hair black, I couldn't put my trust on her — I had no intention to go there from the start.

“Come on in~ I can do all cuts~”

A person who appeared to be the kind owner greeted me weirdly. She was in fact the only one inside. She's cleaning the hair off the floor, presumably from the previous customer.

“Do you guys only do appointment?” I so asked, to which she replied, for some reason, cheerfully. 'Hahah, that's kinda like being ask by the cashier if you're going to eat all thirty burgers on your own~

“It's all right. Just sit anywhere you want.”

Under the lure of her bright but slightly childish voice, I walked in, avoiding the hair while looking around the somewhat cramp store.

The wall and ceiling had white a base, and the decorations were quite tasteful. What looked like the cable television played quietly in the corner; air conditioning rendered the time in this salon to pass slowly. Compared with the heat in my house, I thought it'd be worth it to just spend my time and money here and wait it out. There’s only a fan in my room.

I sunk into the chair and stared at the me reflected onto the mirror ahead. Oh… I think I forgot my contacts. Everything is blurry and I looked scary. Beams could come out of my eyes.

The female owner who occasionally appeared in the mirror with a broom and dustpan appeared to be about twenty-two, three or four years old. As though she had just shed, her skin showed no sign of birthmarks or tan; she's so pale we might not be the same kind of breed. Her hair touched her waist; I had thought it could be used like a carpet if it were to completely cut off. Straight jeans and a t-shirt with rolled-up sleeves, as well as a hat hanging from her neck, she would fit right under the summer sky while watering the sun flower field. The sound of her plastic slippers only aided the youthful aura she emanated, as well as her beauty that is as if the world's unfairness and fate's mischief themselves. Her height of roughly 160cm was also a source of my admiration. I didn't know there existed another person who attracted eyes in a different way than I, like a collection of people's envy.

I picked up several girl magazines in front of the mirror to kill time. I wondered if many of the models on display were taller than I am.

After the cable TV ended on a song, the lady came behind me with a little cart filled with tools. 'Thanks for waiting.”

She gently brushed my head after clipping my hair up and dressing me up like a Teru-teru Bouzu. She complimented on my hair, 'you have good follicles,' making me nod embarrassedly. (TL Note: Teru-teru bouzu 照る照る坊主are believed to bring good weather, and are hung often during rainy days. In Japan they are often made with tissues or handkerchiefs like a little person in robe)

“You must be new here. You're very tall!” She seemed in awe. It's the usual comment I hear meeting someone, so I blankly replied, 'yeah.'

“Must be pretty handy when you're stealing people's fruit.”

“…...” That would be the first time someone had said that. And so, I inadvertently looked at the owner's face with the mirror. What kind of life in these twenty or so years did she go through can she bring such exquisitely chiselled smile?

“What do you go by? And… are you a student?”

I revealed my name while introducing myself as a middle school senior.

“Mm… Maekawa, huh. That's a good last name.” She nodded proudly. Just my last name?

And… it went like that again. For some reason, almost no one calls me by my name. Aside from my parents, people who were good friends… and they exist, but he also calls me Maekawa since I was young. It's not like my name is hard to say; I never understood why. It is a very small secret, in contrast to my height.

“So, what would you like today?” The snipping of scissors came from the mirror.

“Hair dye. I want blonde.”

“No way?”

She squealed unbelievably. My eardrum shook, kind of like when I'm dry coughing; I thought she would proceed without a word. I turned around rigidly to look at her.

“You're going to look like the Kinkaku-ji. I don't think you should.” (TL Note: The temple in Kyoto plastered in gold)

The owner denied my request while spinning her scissors. She even rebuked me with what may or may not even be an analogy, so I didn't feel convinced. Who knew that going to an amusement park with animal mascots in Chiba instead of Kyoto or Nara would have such terrible repercussion… It'd be difficult to have this kind of regret.

“Maekawa, I seriously think black is the best for you.”

“But that's the real colour.” She's telling me to just leave like this. Does she not want business?

“Yep. I recommend you to keep it this way.” She put her hand on my shoulder.

“Nope, let's do blonde.” I don't want the 'status quo' anymore.

“What about brown?”

“No, and no silver either.”

“Mm… I understand.”

Still smiling, she easily retracted her advice and began preparation.

“Oh yes, would you like to trim a bit before the dye?”

“Yes, please.”

“Alright.”

She wet my hair with the sprayer and began cutting my hair skilfully. It'd be bad if she wasn't, so I was at ease.

During the process, she casually asked many questions. Rather than alleviating my boredom, I think it's more about satisfying her curiosity. For example, she asked what's in for middle schoolers, if I liked persimmon, what the boy I like looks in number (Pff!). Her bombardment of questions made me think that perhaps her mouth was nimbler than her hands.

After answering all her questions earnestly, she commented that I 'keep up with my appearance.' I nodded slightly in agreement.

As we prepared for the dye, she asked. Finally, I thought.

“Why are you dying your hair? It's your first time, isn't it?” She asked in the most nonchalant way possible.

“I just do, because I want to become a different me.” There went the reason that wasn't a complete lie.

“Really? You'll still be ‘you' afterward, though. You really want to go through with this?” She replied easily.

Because of what seemed like a metal bowl landing on my head, I pretended to not hear. Sometimes, an adult's wise opinion is just a road too smooth for the youth. I think.

And so she's done.

A me who didn't seem to absorb much light appeared in the mirror.

“What do you think? Like a rip-off of Kinkaku-ji?”

“I guess...” Doesn't she care about her customers? Can't you just give a compliment?

'A me who didn't seem to absorb much light appeared in the mirror,'

I could admit that my head looked like Ashikaga Takauji's, though. I have a few wigs for cosplaying, but this would be my first time dying my hair. Hm~ so this is what a new me looked like. (TL Note: Ashikaga Takauji was the first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate)

The teru-teru bouzu had turned into a shiny girl, but I didn't feel any differences. At most I began imagining about my mother's and others reaction to my delinquency. When I sit uneasily and depressingly in class before the test starts. I might be mistaken as a decoration with gold plating, I thought detachedly.

“You like it?”

“A tourist attraction is still better than an oversized dummy.”

I divulged my thoughts honestly and stood from the chair. As if guided by her, I walked up to the counter, face to face with the owner.

After looking at the fee chart written on the penguin-shaped board, I withdrew several bills and some coins from my purse.

'Thank you,' the owner said after giving half of the exact cash back to me.

“Just half is fine.”

“Why?” The causeless pity put me on guard.

“I'm not about to do business malpractice.” Cha-ching, she voiced the register machine.

“I don't understand.” Now I'm worried about modern Japanese tomorrow.

“I just don't think 1 times 1 is 2.”

The owner left with her iconic, spirited toothy smile. She picked up the broom and dustpan leaning on the wall, thinking to herself, 'what if I don't have time to clean up with all these people coming in?'

I didn't want to lose more confidence before testing, so even if I didn't want to, I still put the money she returned back into my wallet and pushed the door out.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome. Hope to see you again.”

She waved with the broom. I bowed and walked out.

The moment I exited, the air touching my skin rose in heat; the dampness grew in my heart, adding that much weight onto me.

“Whoa… I can see the light.”

Looking up, the hair on my forehead melted into the sun, its existence almost gone.

Let's go home… and study.

As if holding a golden umbrella, I followed the swaying of that colour I've yet gotten used to on the way back.

I wanted to dye my hair.

There are many reasons why, and they rose their hands in me.

“Are you actually a bamboo?”

Kiiko once asked while we were eating school lunch.

We both stopped the motion of tearing and ingesting the rye bread and looked at each other. Kiiko's eyes were smiling, and mine were… hm… at least squinty. I couldn't see very clearly.

“Are you saying I'm Princess Kaguya? That's quite the compliment, but I don't have any dresses so fancy.”

I knew she's joking, but I had to try and play dumb. I reached for the milk carton to divert my sight, and started sucking on the straw.

“I remember you being the third from the last when we were lining up in sixth grade.”

The girl who was taller than the average height by 2 cm in seventh grade is now being mentioned the time when she was shorter than the average sixth grade at sixth grade.

“Uh… really? I'm used to this height now so I don't remember.” I made a joke along that line.

“Now you will still be the last in line if we lined every girl up in this school up. Now that's scary.”

“I guess our school lunch is just that good.”

“What, are you making fun of me for having left over? That's rude, Maekawa!”

“No, I'm just saying I eat too much.”

When this conversation took place, in other words during the December of my second year in middle school, my height was still around 170cm.

At that time, there were still a few boys who were taller than my line of sight.

And now.

Middle school third year, summer in terms of both the calendar and temperature, July.

I'm already over 180cm. Obviously the genetic engineering was a success. I was like a Jingu staff that could only grow one way. Frankly I'm both shocked and troubled.

A lot of problems followed my sudden spurt of growth.

First is the exacerbation of joint pain; my leg cramp increased from once a day to twice a day. I grew taller, to a point that my bones and muscles were pulled to their limit. When my legs seize up in the night, I don't even have a chance to cry as my face struggled in pain. I wanted to wail to this unreasonable world and the parts above my shoulder uncontrolled by me.

All clothes including uniform had to be re-bought. And because of my hobby from since late elementary school — cosplay — I had to change everything.

Since my appearance strayed further and further from my ideal, my dream had been demolished since the woman inside the mirror became a giantess. I no longer strive to become 'a different me,' but rather 'the thing after I've changed a little.' I'll be the Onigiri boy (Katsuobushi flavoured).

Those are two bad things. Actually, there's more.

The times of which I've been branded with 'disappointment' by those around me increased. Naturally, such height should be associated with physical capability. But I implore everyone to look closely: I don't have any lateral growth; I'm just a skinny beansprout, so don't expect anything out of me during sports festivals. For instance, I would run out of energy after throwing two balls. I end up as the rope in tug of war. I have problems such as… wind resistance during a baton race.

My family had me help clean the windows in my house. After raising my arms for ten seconds, I passed out like I have anaemia.

It's terrible, really. I now have to be careful when I'm entering or leaving a car, and the only real advantage I have is when I'm waiting for someone. I stuck out, you know.

Aside from my incongruent height, the blonde hair began covering me on the Monday of early July, when exams began. The stare-attack I was so used to assaulted me once again.

On the way from the lot to class, I ran into several acquaintances; their glances seldom came with words. Was it too intimidating? Not many people have blonde hair, but there are still plenty people like me.

A wave of noise rippled after I entered the classroom that was twice as gloomy as usual. Classmates desperately clenching onto their books looked up and observed me before the first class began.

I scratched my cheek; after I've confirmed that 'he's' not here yet, I walked to my seat. Putting my backpack onto the hook next to the table, I rest my face on my palm. There seemed to be no desks or chairs that fit my size. It was cramped, and even resting my legs beneath proved to be challenging. When I lean forward to lie down, half of my head goes out of the table. As a side note, my growing feet also frustrated me.

Whether she heard or saw, Kiiko came running with a math textbook still in hand. She'd ran here from a separate class, how diligent. “Wha? Wha~” She marvelled at me and circled about, like a monkey in a zoo. And I'm the monkey? How sad.

“What's going on? Amazing. Is it a wig?” She poked the side of my head.

“Hm… I dyed it.” I answered coldly. It's not like I'm a polite person anyway, but that's not me bragging.

“Really? I thought maybe your dad's gene finally appeared now that you're all grown up, and you’re now blonde and powered-up.” Her words from then on were like birds chirping; without a care she continued remarking with what sounded like Japanese. The person who dubbed her Kiiko was the infamous Touwa Erio.

Her hair was something of a mystery, far more impressive than my blonde hair. I also heard that it's her real hair. Apparently she was the only member of the astronomy club, and a space enthusiast who even brought a telescope to watch the stars on the school rooftop.

But we weren't friends, and we weren't in the same class in middle school. What's strange was that people use whatever she called others with. Perhaps she had the power of linguistics.

I don't deny unscientific things, but only if they somehow benefit me. I guess it could be because I live here. “Chirp chirp, chirp.” Kiiko's words just didn't stand out… So I just changed her voices. I did want to do some last-minute cram, so I just made her go away.

In the end the irritating bird girl left, giggling, without ever spanning her wings.

I flipped through the textbook. After finding a random page to start, I begin going through the formulas and reading the texts. I was a little uneasy, and found myself sneaking peeks at the class' doorway.

Am I an idiot? I scolded myself for underestimating the test yesterday, then my eyes moved on their own.

It's Yoshino. Yoshino Takeshi. He lives in an apartment, five minutes and twenty-three seconds away with a seven-year old's footstep, and one minute and thirty-six seconds with the gait of a gigantic, 180cm girl. Hm… He's a certain boy.

Odd how I put it. Oh well. What I mean to say is… we're childhood friends.

He's the type of athlete who'd find time to practice on his own before coming to class, when club activities are suspended during testing period.

As usual he sucked on a bottle of milk on his way to school.

Without batting an eye he sat down in the seat four rows ahead of me to the right and opened his backpack.

I thought he'd at least look at me once, so I was ready to show him my new look, squeezing my textbook. It was for nothing though.

Honestly it's fine, since the hair was just a proof of my change.

Uh… Wow… I was using the book to hid my face, but at the same time I wondered if I actually did that.

I felt that I just couldn't conceal the entirety of my body.

When I was little, I used to look up at Yoshino from his side.

We made a promise, so he became enamoured with the laughably small Maekawa-san.

However…

The friends have become strangers. Our eyes used to be close and met one another's, but now mine could see the distant view.

Vertical and lateral distance left even my lanky arms helpless.

Without me even able to lament about the result of my first day of exam, it went from day to night.

“You shouldn't worry about your height! Crocs and sharks are so much bigger! A whale would swallow you in a bite!”

“I'm more on the mammalian team.”

While dealing with a slightly obstructive customer chewing on grilled squid in the corner of the store, I picked up the plates and utensils; occasionally I wash these things, take orders, and say 'welcome' to customers passing through the door. It's quite a handful actually. But if I get paid, my speed increases by fifty percent.

Due to 'after deducting cost of labour, if the bar's not running well, our live is affected too,' sometimes I get forced into helping the family business too.

'If you practise regularly you shouldn't worry about a test.' That's the view my parents have when it comes to last-minute cramming. As long as I get the result, however, I couldn't care how.

Perhaps my parents are serious, or just quite ethical?

In this boisterous restaurant unrelated with the word sophistication, giant cotton candies of the summer heat smothered me. By the two electric fans next to the TV and on the ceiling blowing at their hardest, the warmth and alluring smell of the food were pushed out of the front.

The aroma would make any hungry person moan; to a regular office worker we're just nuisance and loud noises. Plus the smell sticks on your clothes.

My family runs a skewer pub. The restaurant sits in the shopping district known for its desolated state. Since our neighbour is a Western style restaurant, it's more than a little misplaced. No, maybe it's fair to even say that this shopping district itself is like a patch of moss growing on this beauty city of a rock. It existed before the city's development, and was abandoned; its people, thanks to a conscientious beautifying effort, were more likely ostracised.

And those who live in places livelier simply view this part of town as a tiny slum.

I understand what they mean by standing out… But thanks to the surface of the city being renovated, the dirty little secrets had to be sequestered.

I thought this place functions perfectly as a way to contain the messy and chaotic elements.

People also often report sighting of UFO, so I'm sceptical whether a 'prideful' city can even be achieved. To this day I am still in awe.

Let's keep the name of the store a secret. After all, my name is written clearly on the red curtain, so you may check that out instead. What? You can't? Let's see then… Call me 'Maekawa-san.”

For some reason, even the customers started calling me -san recently. When I was still running around as the store mascot in elementary school, they referred me as '-chan.'

Now that I am the mascot girl, naturally I wore the sign on both front and back — now that's the real mascot girl. But due to the poor range of motion, my parents didn't like it too much, and the customers didn't react well to it.

Why? The joke wasn't received well. Perhaps along with my growth, I've become too avant garde?

But every now and then someone would still laugh, so I consider this a pretty good country. Now I'm assured.

One of the very few people would be that person considered as a regular sitting in the corner chewing on a squid. She calls herself the real Princess Kaguya.

She often wore a red yukata, a pair of black flip flops; her long hair only had the bangs straightened out, and she always wore a red safety helmet when she's on the move with a scooter without a care to the traffic law. Such a lifeform exists in this town.

But supposedly she's never been yelled by the police. According to herself, 'how could the Earth's law apply for an alien?' The law aside, I hope she'd follow common sense at least; whenever I mocked her so, she would just smile.

The self-proclaimed twenty-four year old stood only at 147cm. What that meant is that even with a 30cm ruler attached to her head, she wouldn't surpass me. She looks just like a Zashiki-warash when she sits in her corner; when I pointed that out, she just laughed and said, 'good, then I guess I'm perfectly in sync with the Japanese aesthetic.'

Looks like this princess is always on the opposite end.

“Why Princess Kaguya? You own a place on the moon?”

“Mm? Well, let's see… Ah… I don't have enough fingers, but I think it was six years ago? Something amazing happened back in my home town. Since then We've always been Princess Kaguya!” It could have been the alcohol, or maybe it's just how she is, but the strange phrase was thrown onto the table. (TL Note: Since I do not have the Japanese text, I could only surmise that the word used here is わたくし, which is very formal way to address oneself. Whatever the case is, it's a dignified pronoun meant to also indicate humbleness, hence the usage of We)

“Sweet. Then head on home.”

“You're right. Gotta go back on the next full moon.”

“That long? I mean now!”

“You're so mean!”

“That how things work here!”

I drove out the financially unhelpful midget who stayed for two hours here on just a squid and beer.

While still complaining, she overheard the TV forecast on the typhoon that will, in a few days, arrive on mainland; she drunkenly muttered 'oh no~ I have to go back now,' worrying about something on a different time scale.

A total drunkard who couldn't tell from her front to back. 'Eheheh,' she laughed creepily and paid the exact amount at the register before leaving shakily. 'Bye bye~'

Since she shows up twice every week, my parents would always send her off with a smile. I don't: I'm actually worried. I know she's already working, but is Japan's future really in safe hands?

A lot of adults are a little odd in this town. I just have the feeling. The person in the salon from yesterday too, she's just like another one of the locals… Right, I felt this sense of 'alien' on her.

I'm not big on the extraterrestrial, or power of the universe, but I know that the inhabitants of this town are mixed with something strange. And it seems that the alien-invasion-talk works in every family — what a strange place.

I always thought about going to a different place if I were to go to a university… Even if it were in the sticks, I wouldn't mind if it's far away — I never fit in here.

And so I spaced out delivering plates slowly and sadly, occasionally cooking, and once it's ten, my mother let me go. While taking the apron and sign off, I wondered if she letting me off an hour early was due to the test.

Our house is in a different location. The restaurant is in the shopping district, while the house in the residential area. I'm so afraid of being attacked in the night road… That's a line I can only say if I were 30cm shorter, I think.

Take a shower and study for the test. Something else besides fatigue slowed my pace down; with tired gaits different than the princess from before, I left through the backdoor. I wound up in the middle of the street.

In front of the store was Princess Kaguya's favourite carriage of a scooter, made in the moon. It's not an abnormal sight. She typically rides her scooter here, only to leave it here when she goes home drunk. The following morning before work she would come and retrieve it. It's a pain, but according to herself, 'I'm cool with it, so it's fine,' so it's never been changed.

She's actually older than I am. Must be because we've known each other for so long, sometimes I don't bother watching my words with her. That's also why I forget about that fact sometimes.

I swatted at the moths flying under light outside, and began the anaemia routine, 'ugh~' I gave up; I took off the lock to our family bicycle. My parents enjoy walking hand in hand in the dark of night, so they don't need these wheels. They'll find their way back to their nest with love. As their daughter, I'd like to do nothing less than throw pebbles at them.

Guess I'll wear the eggshell I recently bought instead of the signboard tomorrow.

It's an outfit that has a cracked egg on the top and bottom; it separates when you're standing, and it becomes an egg when you sit. The exposed legs are hilarious, and there are even fruit versions.

Cosplay is great, because it attracts others' attention, in a good way. That's what I like.

I couldn't see the moon amongst the not-so-tall three-storeys buildings lining the shopping; the bike moved forward. With a tap on the ground to start, I stepped deep into the pedals.

The middle schooler given the duty of wearing a helmet, me, allowed the night to freely see my blonde hair (please overlook this). I wondered blankly: comparing me to that scooter princess who, surprisingly, wears a helmet while riding, who's more illegal? Still pedalling, I eyed the lights permeating from people's houses.

The closer I was to my house, the weight sitting in my stomach grew bigger. My breath reeked of acid.

More precisely, I worried about my neighbourhood. My eyes were darting about. If a police officer were to see me now, he’s going to think I'm some thief who forgot her makeup looking for her mark. As far as I know that's how fishy I was. Ahahah (stiffy laughter).

My childhood friend Yoshino might just appear! (Think of it as using an exclamation to hide your embarrassment) If we ran into each other right now, he couldn't possibly just ignore me. Don't even mention my butt — I won't even be able to hide my face. What would Yoshino do? My heart accelerated.

It's not wishful thinking, that we're so conscious of each other… At least I believe so.

But not for the same reason. I could follow Yoshino with my eyes and stride, and this gigantic body could easily enter his vision. Yoohoo! But that must be also why my life is so difficult. Yoohoo!

Yet Yoshino seemed to be deliberately ignoring me.

It must take quite a bit of effort to not think about me, or pretend to not see me. I will applaud him for that. Clap, clap clap~

And so whether it's in the class, morning, period, afternoon and then after school.

Yoshino refused to talk with or look at me. But I've grown used to it.

Still…

‘You dyed your hair.’ After he said so, he grew upward and pulled my hair.

Somewhere inside of me had hoped that it would lead to a conversation. Am I an idiot?

Yoshino was a big bully. I spun my mechanical pencil; like a compass or a hard disk, it led to my rumination.

I couldn't recall an English vocabulary during the test, but the memory easily replayed itself.

The sound of mechanical pencils and paper shuffling that would fill a classroom became the sound effect.

In the summer when Yoshino still wore shorts, he was timid, mindful of other's eyes, and banal. He looked down on me, who was smaller than the giant doll in my hands, and pulled on my hair. Ah… here we go.

I don't know if the cicadas were crying in the real world or my head. I couldn't know — I didn't need to know, because either way it was just perception.

Yoshino was the only kid around my age; naturally I didn't want to play with a boy, and stuck to talking with my dolls. Suddenly, a falsified report appears. Of course that wasn't the case: Yoshino dragged me everywhere. Be it summer, winter or fall, I'd look at the sky.

Because he'd pull my hair from the top, obviously I would.

When there's nothing to talk about, he'd turn around and shout, 'heh! Troll Doll!' And when I would look down, troubled, he'd say, 'Ah… Uh… You're really tiny.'

But I don't hate Yoshino; the opposite actually. I'm not saying I'm an extreme masochist though, because he protected me in all sorts of ways. When other kids called me a midget, Yoshino would hit them.

It would end up as a brawl, and he never held back. Without a doubt, there are times of wins and losses.

The reason wasn't that he couldn't tolerate others making fun of me, but that he hated others for having the same intention as he did. It's a childish thought. That's what he told me, and perhaps, when he would look away, he had other reasons. Of course, I had no clue at the time.

Yoshino dragged me around and fought with other people. But I was the chosen one. I felt that 'he' needed me. And I was glad, and blushed about it. So whether it was him hogging me or pulling my hair, I never resisted beyond saying 'that hurt, stop that.'

But I learned later that it's only because I was smaller than Yoshino. I'll push that thought into the back of my head first. The most profound memory I have with Yoshino is… Oh, here it is.

We discovered a shrine deep inside the forest. Shielded from the elements by the surround trees, the building stood solemnly without much dilapidation. An ancient paragraph described whatever was worshipped here, but for two kids who had only wrote first grade Kanji, it was beyond us. Even with my level 4 certification, I still don't believe I could read it. Though that might be more of an issue with my eyesight.

I recall catching cicadas there. Because of my fear of flying cicadas, Yoshino wanted to catch one to show it to me. I didn't want to go, but I still did. Then we found the shrine. It was dirty, possibly because no one cleaned the place regularly.

We walked around the shrine; it's not like I knew, but I thought it was a shrine or something along the line. I figured I would make a wish. I don't know why, but I wrote down on the wishing charm for Tanabata that 'I wanted to grow up,' and tied the thing on an old tree that's nowhere close to being a bamboo. I couldn't reach it, so I had Yoshino put it there for me. The payment was my hair being pulled. Nothing unusual. (TL Note: Tanabata is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese one with the same name. It's to celebrate Orihime and Hikoboshi's annual reunion, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. In the Japanese festival, paper strips known as 短冊 tanzaku would be written and tied onto bamboo with wished written on them)

I don't know if the charm worked, but if it did, it only worked now seven years later. As if a surgery had taken place, I grew exponentially during the second year of middle school.

There's actually an ending to this incident: My parents couldn't stand their daughter's pain for being so short, so they secretly injected some growth accelerant during my sleep. When I first heard about this two months ago, I somehow thought, 'no wonder Santa always visited me in my dreams,' and accepted the surreal explanation. Should I hate them? Or thank them for their concern? And when does the genuine Santa visit? The conditions are too vague, so maybe I should just get my good kid card stamped, and wait for Santa to arrive?

In any case, my dreams were fulfilled.

Despite calling me a troll doll, he never called me a she-troll.

When I told him that I was taller than he, he didn't grow taller to pull my hair. He didn't do anything; he stared with eyes calmer than water, like the surface of a road.

Our distance grew as fast as my height stretched.

End of replay. It could be said that it ended because of the sleepiness thanks to this heat.

My memories with Yoshino always took stage in the summer. Possibly because it was during summer vacation when we spent the most time together. Human’s ability to retain fond memories marvels me.

There has to be times when you are more empowered by something that's not physical nutrient.

What? The test? Hahaha… Need I say more?

White with a red score. Wonderful that red could coexist with white.

On the last day of the exams, I ran into Yoshino.

I could never dream of the day when Yoshino, who was called an idiot for channelling so much of his energy into sports, coming directly to the bicycle parking lot without stopping by the field. It took me completely by surprise when he did.

I froze first; the person who followed almost fell from his bike and frantically balanced himself. Time stopped. Other students were happily going for their bikes with a cathartic expression after the tests have ended.

The earth was spinning, but we fought against it. Cicada's cry circled us. Nostalgia. I remembered when I wrote down the wish; Yoshino must have written something there too. What was it? The sun blinded me while I tried to recall, but I stopped myself — I had to decide how to deal with the Yoshino standing in front of me first.

I had to think of something while he stood there. 'Why' Why was he avoiding me, and why did I assume he was? 'Height' Height… Yoshino grew a lot too. 'Um' Um… Do you even remember me?

Sound could not formulate into words. Under the unclear and incomplete squeal, it might just pass the expiration date.

My voice crumbled within seconds, unable to weave into anything and melted into the tasteless summer sun.

“Uh...” Yoshino seemed to speak, but his eyes moved before his mouth. What is it? A hope grew. I wished he would lead me like he used to before. That's right, my hands strained.

But the tension remained. Yoshino squinted, despite facing away from the sun, and began pushing his bike with a grimace. A great amount of time in order to ignore me again.

He looked so small that I could easily place my chin atop his head.

The me now could easily pull his short hair.

Without the courage to grab his head to stop him, I balled my hands.

He passed me and kicked at the ground. The whirling of bicycle wheels faded in a straight line.

My head turned slightly from inertia and yearning.

Almost making eye contact with me, Yoshino hurried looked back to the front.

With both legs on the pedals, he only stepped rigidly with his left; the bicycle wobblingly disappeared from the gate.

Strength drained from my shoulders.

Was it from disappointment? Or from relief?

“I...” I talked to myself while shaking the bicycle.

I wish I know.

What is it that I sought from Yoshino?

The day after the exams, Saturday, I wandered about. I wanted to be carried off by the wind, so I dress up like dollar bill, and a 1000 yen one, at that. Though it's rectangular, since it's clothe, it's hard to replicate the same light feeling. The mug printed on it was from an older bill… Who's the hell is this? As a modern child I might not have even seen the real thing. How knowledgeable of me~ My brain's so empty~ I'm going with the wind~

Money circulates in this world, so I thought I would wander the town while contemplating on whether I was even worth a thousand yen.

Both the tests and the weather were impeccable… Maybe not, since it's drizzling outside. Forecast this morning mentioned the typhoon I heard from few days ago closing in onto this city. According to them it will arrive sometimes between tonight and next morning, and leave in two days after ravaging the area.

I thought that if I just dress up like this and stand in the yard, the wind would just carry me off into a town I've never seen before. And people would just… run away from this giant cash bill. Hm.

The wind wasn’t huge, and the rain just drench the money. It'd fall apart it were paper, but clothe does get humid after absorbing a certain degree of water. It's a pretty terrible feeling.

My bangs dripped with water and hid half my sight.

Oh yeah, I'm blonde now. I remembered the changes.

But the exotic factor waned, and the changes I gave myself burnt its life away. I wanted to be a different me; just what is this ideal me required to accomplish?

The scooter I recognised sat there. I know the helmet resting on the seat too. I was interested too thanks to a certain salon, so I revealed my lowered face.

Quietly, and with back slouching, I opened the door and looked inward. Could be the dampness, but it was colder. Before I could feel the frigidness, the sound of scissor blades crossing echoed once again.

“Ah, come on in. Young people's hair sure grow fast… Is that outfit meant to be a pun of hair (髪) and paper(紙)?”

The owner was glad about the half-baked reciprocal nature of teenagers nowadays… That couldn't be it.

Without stopping her hands, she welcomed me with a smile. She froze for a second after seeing my outfit.

“Oh uh, it just… The red bi— I mean, scooter, belongs to someone, I think, so I just...” I don’t know why I had to change the sentence.

Perhaps I'm the rare few who considered ‘that person’ as an adult.

“Scooter? Oh, do you know Kaguya?”

She said so while pointing toward the sofa meant for customers. Princess Kaguya was playing trump on there.

With her sandals off, she kneeled on the sofa, facing off with a little girl. Well, both were little.

Upon seeing me, she happily said, ‘Maekawa, I see you’re still as tall as the average Dutch girls. What are you wearing?’ I felt like she’s a kid staring excitingly as the giant amuse park ride. ‘You looked like you came out from a mattress compressor, too.’

Since the two of them occupied the sofa, I merely stood. People outside would probably mistake me as a talking scarecrow. After what seemed to be either an imagination or words of deprecation, I looked down.

“You’re friends with the owner?’ I realised I still didn’t know either of their names.

“Mm… Since before I moved here.”

Even with eyes glued onto her cards, she correctly pointed at the owner’s back.

The owner did not look back, simply replying, ‘that’s right, I’m friend with an alien.”

She’s still working. The female appearing to be thirty or so in age cut away at the hair with an ambivalent look.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s a dream, or because it’s her appearance. The slightly curled lips and face were incredible adorable, unfitting for her age. Weird, I’ve seen her… Hm… No, I’ve seen someone like her before. No, it can’t be anyone I know. What I should pay attention now to is… I looked down and saw the child, enveloped by the shadow I’ve created. ‘Ugh… Ughh…” She moaned strangely while backing up. The princess in her red yukata saw this and laughed heartily.

“Ahahah! Maekawa’s really scary, but not really dignified!” She so interjected.

“It’s just my outfit.”

“Ran-chan, this is Maekawa. She’s our customer, and she just became my friend.”

The owner, whose smile went unconcealed in the mirror, sent help.

“Ran-chan?”

“My daughter. You write it as blue, and read it as Ran.” (TL Note: 藍 means blue, and can be read as Ran)

Oh~ I wrote in my mind the Kanji I don’t quite remember.

“My husband said it feels really fast if you read it in English… I am the one picked the character though.”

“Oh~” I replied, marvelling at the fact that she’s already married. There’s no tangible reason, but I had assumed her to be single. It’s a bit shocking, but since she felt so mature, it’s not that strange either. Lots of feelings were mended.

Then Ran met my eyes. She stared at me with these glossy eyes. Um… Felt like I was bullying her. “Ran-chan, this Onee-chan— uh, you are right? Right. This Onee-chan would like to sit down, so you should come here a little.”

The princess pulled Ran-chan to her side to give me room to sit down. Ran-chan still looked a little apprehensive after moving; she just wouldn’t look at me. I felt so sorry for her. Guess I will dress up like an anpan or toast next time.

I tried sitting as close as I could to the edge; I didn’t really come here for anything, so I looked at my fingers.

After hearing the princess’ voice for a while, someone spoke to me.

“Maekawa, are you down?” From the mirror, the owner asked me.

“What? Um… Why? Err…” Was I seen through? I put myself on guard for some reason.

“You’ve been looking down.”

That’s it? I’m a little weirded out.

“Hm? What? Are you sad?” Even the princess joined. She pulled a card from the kid’s hand and smiled. Looks like they’re playing the Old Maid.

“Not really.” I so responded, but it was largely ignored; they started, ‘I see~ Kids are really intense with their emotions. Good! My friend, why not go ahead and play this salon’s secondary job, as councillor?’ Something along that line. The owner looked slightly troubled, but she grinned still.

“Reading someone else’s heart… That’s easier than done.”

“Who cares? Just say something interesting and throw in some philosophy or some words of wisdom. Do you best.” The encouraging speaker herself went back to focus on her game.

Why do I feel like I get lumped in with the problematic crowd? Yet here I am not saying anything…

“Something interesting, huh? I would say she’s has more than I do.”

She held up a strand of the hair of a customer who fell asleep and pointed at her with it. That must be the owner’s acquaintance… or perhaps one of the regulars?

“Well… Okay, why don’t I tell the story of me becoming a hair dresser?

“it’s not super interesting, but it’s a fond memory.”

As if tossing in a bonus, the owner gave a youthful smile.

“Sure.” Half of the affirmation was deference, and the other personal interest.

“Long time ago… Haha, it’s really been long, but that’s detail. Before I moved here, I fell in love with a boy. He had a head of messy hair. He hated it when people touch his hair, so I thought that if I became a hair dresser, I would be able to cut his hair for him. That must be why I became a hair dresser.”

She stopped neither her tongue nor her hands.

The face of the owner as she spoke of the story was not that of nostalgia, but the devious smile of a child who had played a prank. Eyes squinted, as though toying with the person who had yet notice her intent.

“And what happened with you and the boy?”

“Mm? Never seen him again. I didn’t go find him, and he never came to me. I did send a letter to him as a way to inform him where I live, but he never replied.

She stuck her tongue out. Looks like that mischievous smile never left her.

“Are you still waiting for him?” A little surprising, but maybe not.

“Mm? Of course I am. I’m expecting it maybe soon, or maybe in some strange time like ten years from now on.”

“I see…”

“But I’m not expecting much.”

She easily toppled her previous statement like humming a song.

“So which is it?”

“Hahah… It’s because I did a terrible job writing the letter. And sending two letters in a row is also just weird… Maekawa, I’m telling you this because I’ve made the same mistake. It’s better to say what’s on your mind while you remember. Feelings change, you know. What you have with the other person might just end tomorrow, so I think one should just try hard and end today’s business today.”

“I feel like you guys have already established what my troubles are before I even said anything.”

“Well~ A girl’s trouble has always gotta be with love. That’s just how it is.”

“Hahah…” She’s right. I got dumped because I’m a giant. It’s too late now, I feel. Shrinking will be pretty hard.

“That’s right! Acknowledge what you want first before thinking about it, and you’ll be a heck lot happier!”

The princess interrupted from the side, shouting some words of what may or may not be life advice. When she fluttered her sleeve like that, I pictured a butterfly with red wings dancing. She then casually tossed the card away, seemingly returning to her game.

Acknowledgment before reasons. I thought I’ve heard that just recently.

“Oh yeah. About the letter: Don’t mention that in front of my husband. He’ll so angry about my first love.”

“Okay.” I wanted to keep to the minimum dealing with this love-dovey stuff. Sure is great for couples beyond their adolescent.

“Ran-chan, you too.”

She turned to remind her daughter sitting on the couch.

“Uweh?” “Uweh~” Pinching each other’s cheeks, the princess and the daughter both replied displeasedly. I almost blurted out ‘Which one’s yours?’

“Alright, Jojo-san, we’re done here. Oh boy, she’s passed out. And drooling, too.”

A smiling face mouthing an expression of wonder reflected in the mirror; Jojo-san…? Anyway, snoring as she did, she only moved a little when poked in the face.

“Should we let her sleep outside? I feel like she’s gonna wake up. That or she’s gonna bloat.”

Looks like the princess’ means of solving problems has no separation between peaceful and violent.

“Well~ I don’t really mind. But just what does she do anyway? I heard she came here halfway during work. I’m kind of jealous that she could come to a salon to take a nap, even if it’s at my store.”

“I know right~” I felt like the princess should be asked the query too. She must live quite the colourful life if she could be playing around with the salon owner’s daughter.

The sight here would be what I believe is the common picture of a rural place. A napping customer, a hair dresser cleaning up the hair. A girl meowing and a princess threatening the kid.

As the only troubled person, I didn’t fit in here. I’m not a customer anyway, so why was I here?

“Haha…”

Now is not the time to be deride that yukata customer who frequents our pub, I mockingly told myself.

The typhoon came. My house wasn’t in ruin, but my classmates’ plan of going out this Sunday certain was.

Me on the other hand had been playing the role of player 2 blonde Maekawa-san, lazing around in my room. It felt terrible; a somewhat sad somnolence struck periodically.

Ever since my height surpassed 180cm, I’ve almost never had a good day. Perhaps because of that, sometimes my stomach ache — It must have become a source of my stress. The best proof to that would be the continued existence of the hobby known as cosplay that manifested at that time.

“I’m coming in.” The paper door opened without being knocked on. It was my mother. Since I didn’t help out in the store yesterday, we haven’t met in almost half a day. I heard her walking up the stairs, so I wasn’t caught off guard.

“What?” I flipped into the direction opposite to the door, displaying my disinterest with the back of my head. When mom saw my hair, she muttered, ‘if only that will raise your English score.’

I agreed.

“Blonde doesn’t look good on you.”

Mom said so while circling to my front to sit down.

“Leave me alone.”

“Princess came to the store yesterday.”

“Doesn’t she do that all the time?”

“She brought a friend. The girl from the salon.”

“Oh… Misses Owner.” I didn’t catch her name.

“Yeah, her.” Neither did mom.

After looking the trembling window, she proceeded…

“After they’re a few bottles deep, they told me that my daughter seemed depressed.”

Sigh… They just had to stick their nose in. I hopped on the floor like a sea elephant or seal, as a way of retaliation.

“Did you come here to comfort me for the words of a couple drunks?”

“Yep. ‘You should believe most of your friends’ advices, but not entirely.’”

“Everyone lies, and if they’re your friends, you have to see through the lies and live happily.’” That’s what my parents taught me, right?

“That’s it.” Mom nodded contently, her head bobbing left and right.

She inspected from my fingers to my hair.

“Thankfully your body is the only thing that didn’t grow taller.”

“Must be because my parents kept me so well-fed.”

Heheh~ I said so with just a little spite. Right, I told my friends that, thanks to modern medicine, I managed to grow so tall. But somehow Yoshino heard the rumour, and he gave me this super mean look. Now that was truly unnecessary.

“Mm… So that really was it.”

“What really was it?”

“After talking about this in the pub, we concluded that you must be troubled by your height again.”

“I’m not even…” I’m still growing though. So much that my stomach hurts, like a pregnant woman.

I curled up in my knees, like a snake in an animal show.

“Really? You’re a strange one to hate a model body. If I were you, I’d dress up like in one of those fashion magazines. Yet here you are, dressed up like you’re going to some school presentation.”

“I can’t even play a tree if I wanted.” I would pass out after raising both hands while standing.

It hurt too when nobody could just ad lib and pretend I’ve been blown over.

“Must be true when they say parents just don’t get their kids.”

“Yeah. You grown-ups have heart as wide as a desert. Of course it’d be hard to find whatever thought you had as a child there.” I threw out what sounded like words of enlightenment.

“So, even if it’s going to do the opposite, I’ve come to apologise to you.”

“Hah?” I could not comprehend and reacted strangely.

The picture of my mom being affected was nothing clear. She opened her mouth ajar, her voice sublimed into words effortlessly.

As though telling a story, she told me the truth.

“Huh?” A cute question unfitting for my size dangled in the air.

Common sense and rationality crumbled. Hurry, pick up the piece before they’re lost in the abyss by my feet. Put them back together. The emptiness grew; like a windcock, I spun in the centre of it.

A chemical reaction exploded. The words the owner said to me yesterday mixed with my body.

The blood circulated faster. Vessels meant to efficiently deliver blood supply to the body displayed their team work, pulsing, as if to inform my lack of blood.

It bubbled and boiled; though fitting, it was in fact the knocking of the wind from the outside. Yes, the typhoon had landed. And there’s a place I want to go.

What would happen if I were to go there? Something will change me. This premonition pressurised my vessels.

And so, I must destroy my favourite memories.

Nothing was forced out of my mind with words such as ‘too late,’ or ‘it’s over.’

It’s not too late. End today’s business today, that way my feelings can always be true to me.

Logically that’s not possibly now though. I’ll give it a few days since there’s no point in going out today.

Yet this feeling bursting forth exists in the me now.

“Don’t look down on us tall people!” Uhh… Typhoon!

I sprinted down and hopped off the stair, kicking off the floor of the hallway. Ignoring the shakes and anaemia kicking in, I focused my eyes. Mom said something from behind, but because of certain feelings I couldn’t care.

I slapped on the umbrella that I thought was proper for this weather and rushed out of the house.

“So, I’ve heard everything!”

What appeared to be a child standing outside of my yard yelled. Her sleeves were going crazy, like a red carp flag. Rather than her holding the scooter, it’s more like the scooter was her paperweight.

“Are you here to destroy humanity?” I spoke first.

“Nope, that’s still under discussion with us aliens. We plan on sending an agent soon!”

With a carefree expression, she lied about her background again. A princess from space should be allowed to join, right? It’s not my interest to leave remarks like that, but I couldn’t care less now.

I am now going to pinch the nose of this event that I’m not sure whether common sense or science fit better.

“Why are you here?” The gale behind her howled.

“I came to check on the location that could be changed by our power.”

“I see.” To make up for lost time I began walking.

“Actually, I left my ride at your pub. It’s not like it’s the first time, but the typhoon is coming. A human-powered tow truck known as your parents kindly move it to the storage. You came out when I came to pick the scooter up.”

I stopped this time since she was being serious. All I could say though was ‘I see.”

“Where are you headed?”

“The shrine.”

“The shrine? What’s that?” She spun the scooter around, making it face me. “I’m no expert, but hop on. I’ll go with you.” She smacked the seat.

“Why are you being so nosy?” I looked at her with suspicious eyes.

“It’d be a fond memory when I go back to the moon.”

She stuck her nose up and played the mature adult.

Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, again? As I parted my lips, rain water flew in. The words never came. I regained my grip on the rationality that returned to appease me.

“I’m in your hands.”

After calmly assessing myself, I realised that it might take a long time for me to reach my destination alone in the typhoon. I might lose this thought in me during.

Being a giant is not enough.

“Wow~ Being polite is not your thing!”

She spoke with a smile that was impervious to the wind. I followed her onto the scooter.

The storm assaulted us; even the strength to keep our mouths shut was sapped away.

“Jokes aside, why are you doing this?” It’s odd to speak so politely with this person.

“Well…” She squinted her eyes slightly, almost as if disinterested, to keep the rain out. I circled her tiny body with my drenched arm; the inside of the yukata robe almost seemed ethereal.

“Isn’t it an adult’s job to help a lost child in tears? Aliens are kind of like this to humans. Everyone knows that it’s too naïve though.”

What she said in the end was not a complaint, but it was mixed with censure.

She’s completely in her role. I was actually concerned.

“Freedom stems not from only reason, but from acknowledgement! Reason is the line, and acknowledgement is the points! So even if the process was never connected, just hop on the dots! The rules of that ‘speed is right’ is correct! Ye love not a bicycle, but a scooter!”

Princess Kaguya shouted toward the stormy clouds with disregard to the riverbed — the forefront of the upcoming typhoon.

“Ugh… I drank some water.” With that heaving motion, she once again opened her mouth.

“Listen well, Maekawa! What you’re doing now makes no sense! The typhoon is coming, and here you are heading into the shrine in that forest! The storm is coming! It’s came; it’s upon us! The alarm’s going off! Because you acknowledged yourself! But that’s the spirit! Same as when you’re playing M#rio kart! Shortcuts are more challenging, but that’s why they feel so good! Even if you lost because you keep trying, it’s still great! Listen! This is what people refer to as freedom! Only that those people are aliens!”

“Thanks for the explanation! But it’s sounds pretty human to me!”

“That’s because it’s been twenty years since I moved here! Where do we go now!”

“Right!” And since when have you lived outside of this planet! I yelled! But the wind erased my voice. The gust almost blew the scooter away, but the princess kept it perfectly balanced.

“We’ll probably die if we fall into the bank.”

“Is that something to be so calm about?”

“And you don’t even have a helmet. The officers won’t like that too much.”

“The police won’t be around in this storm, just drive.”

“Yep, and that’s why we can go without eyes looking.”

Was that why she tagged along? I almost commended her for that.

A person of 180cm height holding onto a 147cm driver; no matter the angle or presentation, anyone would find the sight amusing. Since the rain that could cover embarrassment and unnecessary words poured, I held onto the princess and left all movement up to her.

Summer — my visions were poor, like when I was dragged by Yoshino through the words. The terrible weather imbued the environ grey — a sunless world was born.

In this picture, a crimson and reliable silhouette easily distinguished itself from the surrounding.

We chased the shadows of Yoshino and my past; with the superfast shortcut version of that, we arrived at the forest’s entrance. The woods fanned menacingly.

“We have to walk from here on. The environmentalists are an annoying bunch. I’ll have you know more aliens are advocates for mother nature than humans.”

“I see.”

The wind helped me through this topic. I got off and thanked her, all while looking at the countless entrances between the trees. I pictured the image from before to re-discover our entry point.

The fourth tree on the right looking from the road… Ah… there it is. I entered from where Yoshino charged directly into; from the same location, I invaded into the forest in hope of finding the place we stumbled upon.

Footsteps were step… step… step… and step step step. Suddenly it was duet of an oddly light tempo.

I found her there after turning my head.

“Why are you following me?”

“I couldn’t find a reason not to.”

She lost me. I had no strength to either rebuke or welcome her, so I proceeded silently. Halfway through I realised this object plastered on my back became a windbreaker.

“Oh yeah, what’s this shrine?”

“What?”

“Oh... I mean, why are you going to this shrine?”

‘Would you like to equip this?’ The way she ended her sentence sounded like such a question; I think she also hid something from me. The grown-up asked something critical, but since she desisted from the query, I was at ease. I don’t really know why, but I had this feeling that this shrine was something more than just a building.

“We’re going to destroy it.”

“What? With this storm around I don’t even think we need to do anything.”

I won’t be satisfied by that.

The memories, the shadows, and the cherished things — the charm that’s the conglomerate of all.

I want to rip off the charm that I tied on that tree. That is my display of valour for the day.

“Sigh! If height is considered a talent, than it really isn’t for me!”

Other than valour, I also shouted something else in the middle (unsure) of the forest. I’m no giraffe, so there’s no reason to grow this tall. Still, it was now a part of me.

I guess I was mad. It was something that I refused to lose to the storm to — it’s everything to me. I wanted something to change, and I believe the possibilities were hidden in the dark of the woods.

“Boys only don’t like tall girls because we’re so few! If everyone just drank their milk and eat their meat it won’t be a problem!”

“Have you been drinking, Maekawa?”

“We run a bar! Of course liquor is in my blood!” I’m not even sure about that either!

And so, I traversed the forest, charging inward without knowing for certain if I was lost.

Upon arrive the shrine, I was dismayed.

Look around. Walk around. Try to remember. I did everything, but no one responded to even my voice. I checked inside too, yet—

Nothing.

I saw nothing.

I couldn’t find what I came for. The fan-shaped leaves fluttered. Their accessories were gone: I couldn’t even see the shadow of my charm. Only the shrine remained to be destroyed by the gale.

“Why?” No one should have been here.

“This is not right.” I leaned in. As if immersed in water, the clothes sunk down with weight. With what seemed like swimming strokes, I advanced slowly.

“Oi~ Maekawa, are you alright?”

“Nothing is alright!” Don’t screw with me! It has nothing to with anything?! Then why am I so tall?!

I must dig it out. Then rip it, throw it, burn it, soak it — it must disappear.

“Calm down. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s gone! It’s all wrong!” Because of that! It’s because of that that Yoshino and I ended up like this! I know I can’t go back to the past; that’s why I must at least destroy it. It’s the only way I can move on, or I will crumble on the way forward.

“More! Further! Further!” I cut through the woods, sending dust and mud flying. I could see what’s ahead, and I searched while closing in; but I couldn’t move forward: my limbs struggled laughably, and then—

“Relax.” Someone touched my head, and with the tiny hand that the red sleeves flowed from.

I was kneeling in the mud. Splash! The knees that were splattered with muck were as cold as floor in the winter.

“So what if it’s gone? Let it go.”

Her tone was not dissimilar from correcting a misremembered math formula.

Stroke and stroke, she firmly felt my hair. The bangs covered my forehead and eyes; even looking up couldn’t reveal her face.

“If all you needed to grant a wish was to hang a piece of a paper on a tree, earth would have never advanced this far. Listen carefully: Don’t expect your prayers to be answered, even if it looked like they worked. Wishes are meant for someone more specific; not the gods, but someone who could help you.”

She hit my forehead with the bottom of her palm, pushing me away on between the eyes.

Wham! I jammed my elbow into the mud and collapsed. Felt like a golem reverting to its material. I had this wild dream, that if it kept raining, would I drown in a water no deeper than 10cm? ‘Heheh,’ I laughed at myself.

“What am I going to do with you?” Princess Kaguya walked toward the shrine with this annoyed expression. Her dauntless gaits reminded me of Yoshino when he was young.

She somehow took out a stack of ancient charms that seem too frail to be touched. She then produced a brush and began the motion of writing. As I pulled my face from the mud to see what she wrote, she stingily hid it. When I stood up, she left quickly and tied the charm on a nearby tree.

“Look, I made another one for you. Don’t break this one now.”

“The charm—”

“’I wish Maekawa would be 179.9cm.’ But here’s the thing: It’s not a prayer to the gods. I can use a magic… no, sorcery, to make people smaller. Mmm, as the Japanese would put it, I can use sorcery. Since I’m an alien. Yeah. Not just laser beams, I can even do telekinesis from my hands, like a 3D picture book. Get it?”

“I don’t.”

“That’s just cruel.”

Her face twisted together. I guess in a way she’s the type to never back down on what’s important to her.

Still…

To so easily liberate someone, ‘that’s an adult for ya.’

“Why say that now? There are giant brats and tiny adults too, you know? Like an adult brain in a child body.”

“Something in there sounded funny.”

She gave a smile indicating her intention.

I dropped my guard and almost caved.

“Why say that now? There are giant brats and tiny adults too, you know? Like an adult brain in a child body.”

Ahh… I don’t need to look for an excuse anymore. She told me I just had to acknowledge myself. Not everything needs to have a definite reason. It’s extremely difficult to carry out without getting used to it though.

My heart was in contrast with the weather, and neither showed no sign of waning. That’s right, the storm is coming.

My life is about to begin as well… I thought.

So, let’s quickly escape from this gloomy forest.

I dragged my drenched body, peppered with wound and covered with snout, back to the scooter.

“Sorry, but I want to make a stop along the way.”

“Along the way? You mean you want to go? Life doesn’t have ‘stopping along the way.’ That would mean you don’t have a place to go.”

“Ok… I want to go somewhere.”

“No prob.” She raised her right hand while driving. Hey.

Perhaps she noticed how dangerous that was and immediately stopped; I once again hugged her in relief.

This time, the body that was almost mistaken as an illusion undeniably existed.

Through the cloth with my cheek, I assuredly felt the firm spirit of an adult through my bones.

The place I asked Princess Kaguya to go was Yoshino’s house.

“Hurry.” She urged me from the back, still straddling the scooter. I looked down, and ran up to Yoshino’s doorbell knowing that it would stir quite the something up. The bell that used to need me to stretch taller was easily reached.

It’s so short now that it might even strain my shoulders if I were to press this every day.

In a short while, the person inside opened the door unsuspectingly without even using the intercom. Due to the wind blowing against it, the door appeared difficult to open. The person who pushed the door out with both hands was Yoshino himself.

“Uh… Huh?” The door shut itself on Yoshino’s shoulder; he gawked in shock.

It could be because a soaked giant stood in front of the door, or maybe because I picked the day before the typhoon to come and scare Yoshino, to run him in circles.

“Yo!” Voice morphed into words, and transmitted to Yoshino’s ears.

How many years has it been?

“Uh… Oh…”

Affected by a formless chaos, he stood there affixed.

I could laugh at how stiff he looked.

“I’m a hundred-percent natural.”

“What?”

“My parents didn’t do anything to me. Meaning, my parents thought that you were scared because I grew so much. They just told me that trying to comfort me.”

“W-what?”

“That’s how it is.”

I reached out.

My fingers grasped Yoshino’s short hair more easily than I’d expected, and tugged on it.

Rip, rip… The sound of hair leaving the skin.

“……” Tears formed in a silent Yoshino’s eyes.

I might have overdone it. Casually I tossed the hair aside and exhaled.

Even without Yoshino in front of me, I could still stride forward. Because the long legs of a giant could leave anyone behind; even from afar, they will see me.

Don’t fear being distanced. Even if the past with Yoshino is devoured by ambiguity.

In this forest, before the storm arrived, a tiny grown-up taught me the way to walk.

Before he could retaliate.

Before I could regret.

I turned away.

“Good bye.”

I made up my mind to leave.

And to change myself.

I turned like a kite, walking away from Yoshino in this storm.

“Oh? Done?”

“Princess.”

“What’s up?”

“How old do I have to be to get a scooter license?”

☆

“She’s the daughter of the CEO of a furniture company. She lives in a huge house, which is why people called her Princess Kaguya (家具屋).”

I later learned the truth from the hair salon. It wasn’t even told by the person herself, but the owner.

The daughter of a furniture company sitting on the couch added, ‘actually, it’s more than just that.’ ‘Oh yeah, that’s right. It’s was quite a bit of time ago.’ The owner remembered and grinned somewhat devilishly. Mm~ She may have been a bully before.

“Here we are. Back to normal, Maekawa.”

“Thanks.” I stroked at the black bangs while saying so. I dyed my hair back — the old Maekawa-san had returned.

The teru-teru bouzu that appeared momentarily in the mirror looked pretty good even with just black and white, I thought proudly. Seeing that smile, the owner asked amusedly, ‘what’s wrong?’ and removed the cape.

Finally I walked toward the register, and like before, with a word of ‘thanks.’ As I reached for the dwindling allowance in my purse, the owner said, ‘just half is fine.’ Similar to last time, she gave half of it back.

“Ah…” I see. I gave in this time and took it back.

So she’s a clairvoyant, and an ethical business owner.

I looked at the hair dresser, considering her now to be someone who places acknowledgement before reasons.

“I’ll take the rest of the money. Hahah, now you really wasted your money.”

“Yeah.” I nodded deeply. I also wasted a lot of my life.

From now on I want to live efficiently.

“Okay, I’m heading back too.” Princess fluttered her wings toward the entrance.

She spun to wave lightly at the owner.

“Good bye, Tooe~ You should study your English for your name sake!”

“Haha. Sadly, that’s the type of hard work I hate the most. I’m wasting my life, after all.”

With a smile, she shooed the princess away. ‘Everyone is trying to get rid of me,’ Princess Kaguya laughed, disappearing as if swapping place with the door.

I wanted to see the scooter off; I acknowledged the hair dresser who bid me farewell and headed out. She was just about to put on her safety helmet, and her scooter was positioned to go.

“See ya, Maekawa. Next time, bring me the shell of a swallow.”

“I won’t keep you. You may go back to the moon now.”

“I will.” She tauntingly throttled and let the scooter gain speed.

Princess Kaguya, with her illegal helmet, rode energetically in the road again.

Wondering if she could get there with a scooter when even the bullet train can’t, I saw her off.

The battered frame of her scooter disappeared around the corner.

I could see only the pure, aqua-blue sky after the typhoon had passed.

Naturally, with the cloud gone, the scorching sun beamed down. “Phew.”

I almost melted when I stepped on the asphalt road — I was like vanilla ice cream in this weather.

Thanks to the hair attracting heat, my brain gradually disintegrated.

To more efficiently transmit themselves, the thoughts about to dissipate motivated me.

I started walking.

While ruminating the phrase, ‘the meaning of life is to create someone else’ life.’

My neurons worked to imagine what I was to Yoshino in his story.

It’s been half a year since I recovered to an eggplant.

April sixth, a breezy entrance ceremony. As a high school freshman, I passed through the gate of an unfamiliar school.

I never spoke to Yoshino again in the second and third semester after the summer, and I never needed to avoid eye contact with him. We chose a different high school, so I don’t have to be careful anymore.

The gazes of my soon-to-be classmates who came to join the ceremony were upon me. Was she held back? Or a girl standing on another girl pretending to be ‘me?’ They stood from afar and watched closely.

Since I didn’t think of a place to hide, I deliberately walked in the middle of the campus road. I grasped at my hair and looked upward; a blend of pink and traditional Japanese girl colour took the sky.

Though my hair was now black, the student ID still used the old blonde girl picture. Objectively, only my hair looked different.

But I’m Maekawa-san, a giant who everyone, be it the seniors or classmates, had to call me -san. Now that I can’t become someone else, I just have to grow fond of those words. A one-way road for my feelings.

Thankfully a lot people liked me, my height, and even my hobby (No way!). Even the owner of the hair salon said this: ‘you can be the perfect fruit thief.’ Princess Kaguya too would beg me, ‘let me ride on your shoulder~ I wanna play super fighter bros~’ The place that I worked part-time at during December told me, ‘sorry, we’re closing next March’ and let me have a costume as the final payment. I took the eggplant. It’s not like I didn’t always walk around selling vegetable croquette wearing this thing. My co-worker dressed up as K#rosuke, but I don’t do that stuff anymore.

Back to the topic at hand. It’s a strange ting to talk about, but I’ve made up my mind to live every day of my live from this height.

Perhaps some will be deceived by my superficial height. I bet every club would want me in. Though I will miss my old height, I learned the fact that being tall is indeed a source of charm in others’ eyes. Yoshino liked me before, but I’m the me now. I don’t rely on that anymore.

I’m fortunate to have grown so big. Anywhere I reach for, I could hold onto something.

“Hng~”

This pretentious body of mine appeared even better while I stretch.

Now, let’s go disappoint some more people.

Translator's Notes and References

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