Chapter 3 (1/2)
This is the third chapter of a story I a titled “House Ephemera” (蜉蝣の家) by Hatasu shi+kishi+ma (識島果)
Thanks to Sherayuki for helping proofread this chapter
You can read the full japanese text of this chapter
See which contains a brief synopsis and links to other chapters (as they are posted)
As usual, whether I continue translating this will depend on feedback/views fro a cos I should translate
Chapter 3: The
Lo and behold, it wasn't long until my next encounter with the man
That day, after searching through a large bookstore near the train station for a certain reference book unavailable at the college bookstore, I was about to head over to the section of modern japanese books, as I often do I was curious to see if there were any new publications that would interest ht next to the section I was headed for Just like that night, he stood -sleeve shi+rt and that old Chesterfield coat
I stopped there on the spot, reference book under avee firstthe day like this He still had a clean-cut air about him, yet in the bookstore’s well-lit interior he looked like a typical, everyday foreigner searching for a book To tell the truth, I even felt an inkling of disappointht had been coe of hiht of the train remained etched deeply in my mind
”Good day”
I felt coreet him as a matter of courtesy, especially after the aard experience the other day of clinging to his ar for his contact information
”Whatfor?”
”I' in particular”
His ansas practically a whisper There was so about his voice that re stirred deep within me
”I have some time If you don't mind, let's head over to a café”
Shocked to receive such an offer from him, I could only nod Despite the measure of disillusionone There was no line at the cashi+er He stood silently in wait as I hurried to check out
The man and I were led to one of the innermost tables in the di quietly in the background I ordered an Earl Grey tea, he a coffee There was so across a table fro about that excited n of being nervous
Without any real conversation to speak of, our drinks arrived I poured warave it a cursory stir Suddenly I looked up, startled Long, pale fingers raised his coffee cup A surface of the jet-black liquid Toabout this man was picturesque, like a true work of art He see a ot the sense that this faint, delicate thing he possessed-which I could only call an aura-would quickly shrivel up and die if left under the glaring sun
After taking a sip of coffee, he introduced himself
”Please call me Ricardo”
”Of the famous Equivalence Theorem?”
He sh school rushi+ng back Ricardo Judging froroundTake Five
”Do you like books?”
When I asked hi him in the bookstore, Ricardo nodded
”The tied Books are cheap”
After saying this, he o they were quite expensive”
”Oh really? I actually feel that lately book prices have been on the rise”
”The other day, I read the book Kokoro,” he said suddenly, ignoring my comment
”Isn't that by Natsume Sōseki?”
”Have you read it?”
”I read it once in h school”
”Indeed,” Ricardo said with a nod
I didn't find this out until later, but he was in fact very well-read, if not extre like this frequently, and without fail, I was ae He was a philosopher, scientist, and an author of literature On top of that, he was also well-versed in japanese culture Now that I think of it, his bow that day we uishable from that of a japanese person
I'll tell you another story about him
On a different day, ere ordering drinks at the sarasped his chest in agony His coffee spilled and the waitress looked back over her shoulder to see what happened
”Sir, are you alright?” the waitress said, voice raised and tense