Volume 31 Chapter 4 (1/2)
”I'm Yamanobe Aki”
The young girl, having just been prompted by her father, introduces herself clearly
”Of the violet class at ladybug kindergarten Six years old”
My, what a well raised young lady And the way she speaks shows her intelligence
”I'e Currently, I'm a first-year”
I'e, and since we're both women it wouldn't be fair to keep this from her, so I add, ”Nineteen years old”
”She's my friend”
The girl's father, Yamanobe-san, explains his relationshi+p with me
Friend
True, we're still friends
”It's a pleasure to meet you, Aki-chan”
We're neither more nor less than friends We've known each other for six months now, but we've never kissed or even held hands
Our courtshi+p was prefaced by e proposal to him, and his refusal and insistence that we should just be friends for now
Although it's still ait a courtshi+p
Yae, so it's unavoidable As for dates, e have a bit of tio to the zoo and look at the elephants, or have tea at a cafe with an under-construction skyscraper visible through the s It makes me happy to see his face in profile, so I'e classirlfriendsto be like this for the rest of our lives?
Just as I was starting to feel that way, he juhter”
That was a step forward on the path from friends to lovers No, with one leap I'd becohter think of me? She'd probably be opposed to the idea
So after a lot of worrying, sighs, outbursts of anger, and gru to my friends, the day has finally arrived
It's a sunny Sunday afternoon in October, and the cafe by the train station has a decent number of customers
”Let's get along together”
Hearing my words, Aki-chan looks down Since I don't really know her, I can't tell if this is supposed to be a nod of agree her eyes As I puzzle over this, she continues happily eating her pudding
”Is there anything you'd like to ask Eriko-san?”
Yahter Like a husband stuck in the middle of a quarrel between his h that's not exactly news to me I understand his desire to end this aard silence, but how is his kindergarten aged daughter supposed to drive this conversation? It looks like it's up toto talk about - or so I'le question:
”Can we go home now?”
It feels like I've suddenly been punched So that's how it is, you want to go hohts swirl aroundin response
”Aki, what are you saying?”
Yamanobe-san says, flustered
”Dad, you said you wanted ht? We've met, so that's done”
Bright kid Her theory may be sound, except in the adult world certain phrases have a hiddento them
”That s to discuss with Eriko-san And I couldn't let you go home on your own from here So, you see”
A theory to rebut her theory Ya tactic
Fair enough This is, in reality, an arranged e interview, and if it ends after a etically declined
”Couldn't she come too?”
Aki-chan glances at me
”Huh?”
”If you want to talk to her, then couldn't she come back home with us?”
Yamanobe-san and I instinctively look at each other
It's a mystery
If Aki-chan was s, then it would be easy to understand It was too hard to say goodbye to this wonderful older sister, so she wantedBut, apart fro towards me
”Aki-chan, you know, I'hted that you'd ask e in so suddenly - ”
I'arten, so I can't just rashly accept her offer Adults have adult - , or so I'ether
”Not at all, that would be great”
”Huh?”
”I' the place clean, but if that doesn't bother you then please co, Eriko-san”
”Hah”
To refuse the offer I'd have to say that I a to Ya his everyday life That doesn't bother me It intensely interests me
”Well then, just for a little bit”
I agree, catching up to Yaister with the bill from our table Aki-chan has already left the cafe
Nohen visiting so the train tickets, I purchase a box of cookies froer selection in the food section at the bottom of the depart about that
After arriving at the platfor for an outbound train, which we board and then disembark from two stations later
Aki-chan was quiet on the train - she didn't try to separatealone on a seat, looking at the floor
”Are you sure it's okay forlike this?”
I checked, just once, with Ya on to the strap next to mine
”Don't worry about it Actually, I find itthat Aki invited you”
I too aued by that
Yamanobe-san's house is about a ten minute walk from the train station I had expected it to be an apartle-story bungalow
”No running, Aki”
Just before we reach the house, Aki-chan breaks into a run I'lad that I haven't been outright rejected just yet
”Isn't it locked?”
”Aki has a key”
So that's it The sure turns the key with practiced ease, and the door creaks open
”I'm home, mom”
I'm stunned when she turns into the house and shouts this out
”I've told her to say that when she goes into the house, even if there's no-one there”
”Ah, right”
It's probably so no-one would think she was all alone in the house Still, it caught uard
”Oh, it's fine, don't randparents live about ten houses down”
So when Yamanobe-san has to leave for the day, they come around here or he takes her over to them Apparently my distress at Aki-chan's use of the word ”istered on Yamanobe-san
At any rate, it isn't appropriate for me to say, ”I',” bow, and remove my shoes
”Have a seat wherever you want”
I walk through to a six tata room that's furnished and decorated in the traditional japanese style In theit are zabuton floor cushi+ons Tea cupboard, TV, …
He'd said they weren't scrupulous about tidying, but everything is neatly organized The teapot itself is sparkling clean Was this Yamanobe-san's handiwork, or his mother's?
Yah he told me to sit wherever I liked, it looks like they probably have favorite cushi+ons to sit on, so I hold back and kneel directly on the tatami-mats
Just as I' where Aki-chan has disappeared to, she reappears in the living room
”I had to wash my hands And to pee”
- Right For no particular reason, I' Hmm, maybe
”Aki-chan, I bought these sweets as a gift, ould you like to do with them?”
What I'd meant was, ”Do you want to eat them now?” but Aki bows, says, ”Thank-you very hter and say, ”You're welcome”
Now that the first stage of the for cere the candy As I watch on, wondering what she's doing, she looks back over her shoulder and beckons me Since I've been ordered to follow her, I do so Then she slides open the sliding screen and moves into the next room
This room contains a butsudan, a household shrine Aki-chan opens the doors of the shrine and places the candy in there as an offering The bells tinkle as she closes her eyes and joins her hands together in prayer
”Aki-chan, is it alright if I light an incense stick for your mother?”
I ask, after Aki-chan has h I was strange, and softly says:
”The candles can only be lit when there's an adult present”