"Kimi to yuku michi" "(The road I travel with you)" "Asaji-Ohkawa Heihachiro" "Yuji-Saeki Hideo" "Mother-Kiyogawa Tamae" "Utsugi-Fujiwara Kamatari" "Hine-Takao Mitsuko" "Kasumi-Yamagata Naoyo" "Tsukiko-Tsutsumi Masako" "Hey Yuji." "Oh, you're home." "Let's go out in the car with Asaji later." "OK, maybe I'll come over when my brother gets home." "Oh, I thought you were with Minoshima." "Where were you?" "I was exercising." "Those things are poisonous before you eat." "Take some of this." "I saved it for you." "You'll have some won't you?" "Any strawberries?" "Strawberries?" "We have some but I'm saving them for when Asaji comes home." "They're the first of the season." "Should I peel it?" "Yeah." "Strawberries at this time of year probably aren't any good." "I wonder how much one costs." "There are only ten in a box." "During New Year, Hine went over to one of Utsugi's friend's place and they had strawberries." "There was one this big." "That's something, isn't it?" "And there was a little gold chain on it." "If you have money everything's different." "There." "It's peeled." "Just leave it there." "Hey, Yu-chan—" "Be quiet." "Leave me alone." "I have to study." "I tell you those things are poisonous." "It won't hurt me." "I hope that's true." "Where's Asa-chan?" "What about his dinner?" "He ate." "It's already seven, you know." "Why is he so late these days?" "Offices aren't open this late are they?" "There are some that are." "Is that right?" "What's happening with him these days?" "I don't know what's going on his head." "Why don't you ask him what's going on?" "Why don't you ask him yourself?" "Because he scares me." "I have to study." "Leave me alone." "Why can't we talk?" "I have an exam tomorrow." "Really?" "Hey, what's wrong?" "Is your name Asanuma?" "Yes." "Are you perhaps Torijiro's son?" "How did you know?" "I thought I saw a familiar face-you look just like your father." "My how you've grown." "I saw your mother's picture." "Your mother was a very proud person — and very fashionable, too." "Really?" "Ha ha ha." "What?" "You don't like this?" "Utsugi says he has something to ask you." "Oh, is he here?" "Good evening." "It's rather late" "I have a big favour to ask of you." "What is it?" "Did Hine do something again?" "Aren't these your pyjamas?" "Really, you should act your age around that young woman." "This is terribly selfish, I know, but..." "What do you need?" "Something to eat?" "Don't worry about that." "I can make you something anytime if that's what she wants." "Are you afraid to ask?" "No, today. it's not something to eat." "She says she wants to have something to drink." "We have no liquor in the house and she's says she'll get sick if she doesn't have a drink." "That's ridiculous." "She says she needs it right away." "Just tell her that you won't get it." "She gets selfconscious when the boys are here." "You came over to get some for her?" "What a nice master." "Hine must be very happy." "Good evening!" "I thought you had disappeared." "I didn't disappear." "You sent me here." "He's just a little boy." "He's a good master." "He doesn't deserve you." "It's kind of depressing over there, let me tell you." "It's mahjong and flowers all day." "Flower arranging is BORING, let me tell you." "I can't even tell a joke." "What's so fun about that?" "I have to watch what I say and do." "It's so painful." "I'm afraid that if I go to bed without having a drink, I'll have bad dreams about it." "So, excuse me Madame, but..." "What?" "Liquor?" "We don't have any." "Oh— Asa might have some whiskey around." "Welcome home." "Grandfather Utsugi is here." "He's being funny again today." "Is that so?" "Turn that off." "What's wrong with it?" "What's going on with Kasumi-chan these days?" "I haven't seen her at all these days." "Her window has been dark." "I think we might be able to hear this record over there." "What's wrong?" "Did you have a fight with Kasumi-chan?" "Kasumi-chan is going to get married soon." "To whom?" "With some rich, old geezer." "That can't be true." "It is." "We broke up." "Really?" "Did she say that?" "No, I broke up with her." "It's better that way." "Poor Kasumi." "That's mean." "Did you really say that to her?" "That's cruel." "No it's not cruel." "I did it for her sake." "What's for her sake?" "To get married to some old guy?" "She said that she would die if she couldn't marry you." "How can you do that to her when she made such a serious promise to you?" "That's just a joke." "No." "She was so serious about that, I just can't imagine her wanting to marry someone else." "It can't be helped." "There's no way we can marry, even if that upsets you." "Why?" "What do you mean there's no way?" "Why?" "Because the Onoe's company is on the brink of bankruptcy." "They're 1 million yen in the red." "Her getting married to that guy would bring in a lot of money." "Maybe, but you don't have to tell her to get married to someone else." "I'm not stupid." "Her father is in debt." "He has a lot of money so he thinks he's a big deal, but he's just a parvenu." "Even if they married her to some stupid rich guy's son, it's clear that they're just thinking about the money." "What's wrong with that?" "He said that she was like a loan on the future." "Is that even possible?" "Didn't they buy a car?" "Her father spends hundreds of thousands of yen on things like that." "That's why they've run into money trouble." "So they're selling Kasumi to some geezer." "He wants to run for the Chamber of Peers and that costs money." "It would be fine with me if he doesn't make it." "He's a jerk anyway." "But more importantly, why didn't she refuse the match?" "She could have done that." "She did." "She did that for me." "She did?" "And?" "And then her parents said that they could marry her to someone poor, but never to the son of a mistress." "But we're not only our mother's sons." "But were also not our father's sons." "That's what society thinks of us." "What about my other older brother?" "He doesn't consider you a brother — or even anything for that matter." "But I'm still a son of my father's." "Our name is Asanuma." "Take a look at the family registry." "We're the only one's whose mothers and father's names are different." "I see you're home, Asaji." "What's up, Asaji?" "Oh, hello there." "It's been a while since I've seen you." "Go out and have a good time." "Utsugi-san said that he wanted some whiskey." "It's over there." "Yuji, are you done with your exams?" "Did you pass?" "Even in the worst case I'll be able to pass." "That's good." "You'll graduate next year." "Don't get so wrapped up in sports now." "OK." "Every time I see you you look more like your father, Asaji." "Your father was a much better man than this one here." "I won't say that he was a good man, but I will say that he was manly." "A good man is one like me." "Here you go." "Thanks." "Are we going to drink it here?" "Can we take it back to our place?" "Don't ask me." "Ask Asaji." "Asaji, may we?" "Sure, go ahead." "We'll take our time with it then." "And afterwards..." "And afterwards you can have a little one-on-one." "And after that, we'll do what men and women do when they're alone." "That was what I had in mind, but you usually don't have people come over when you do that." "Listen to that!" "Maybe you should try it sometime yourself." "Grandfather, there's something in your hair." "Really?" "It's a spider web." "I saw it the other day in my doorway." "I thought someone might run into it so I cleaned it away." "Is it still there?" "You got it all, but maybe it would have been better if you hadn't." "You'd look like you had more hair." "OK, I'll be going." "Come on over later." "Asaji, please come over." "OK." "Asaji is a good man." "So what?" "He looks just like that actor." "Stop that." "You'll make him angry." "Thank you." "Good night!" "Sorry to bother you." "Good night." "Good night." "I think I won't go." "That's fine." "You know, Mother says that when she was working in Shinbashi, she used to help Father out when he needed it." "Father was always grateful for that." "There's nothing to be embarrassed about." "Because we're her sons, we were always called the best looking guys in our class, or even the whole school." "Idiot!" "Why do you say that?" "Do you think you're going to get by on your looks?" "Yes, I do." "You say that, but if you had been an ugly guy you might not have been able to meet Kasumi." "I used to believe things like that, just like you." "I believed in a romantic destiny." "That's why I so easily fell in love, but if the world is such a romantic place, why are things so difficult for us?" "Even so, I don't think you have to give up just like that." "Amanuma Yuji is a fine man." "Someone who's living off his mother's money isn't a fine man." "It's not only her money." "Yes it is mother's money." "Only hers." "When Father died, she got this place and some money in return for giving up her claims on the estate." "Really?" "Yes." "That's why she always goes on about how she raised us on her own." "They were holding hands like a grandfather with his granddaughter." "Hine has her quirks, but she's like Ooka Midori." "Ooka Midori?" "When his wife died, she was able to pull up a cushion and eat with him." "Until then, she was just like a maid!" "Ahh!" "My father was laughed at, too." "Why?" "Asaji!" "No one laughed at your father." "He wouldn't have stood for it." "You don't know how angry he got." "I didn't ask for that." "Look at Hine." "She's young." "Do you think she wants that old man hanging over her?" "You take everything in so negatively." "It is funny, that old man hanging around her." "Anyone would laugh." "Asaji is always giving me such a hard time." "He's always saying sarcastic things to me." "Never mind." "Don't worry about him, Mother." "Leave that stuff on the desk over there." "It's 'decks', not 'desk.'" "'Desk' would be better." "You keep forgetting." "How many times I tell you, you don't remember." "Hey, Asaji, get this: the other day, Oharu called 'love letters' 'detabeta'." "Cut it out you idiot." "What's funny about that?" "Mother has a sense of humour." "Isn't that a good thing?" "I want a mother who'll correct me when I say 'decks' instead of 'desk.' And it's the same with food." "I want a mother who'll tell me not to eat out, who'll have something proper for me when I come home, not this kid stuff." ""To Onoe Kasumi From Amanuma"" "She's really great." "You're not listening." "Yes I am." "What are you talking about?" "I found the right person." "You?" "She's really pretty." "Who?" "I don't know." "I saw her in the train." "Where?" "On the train from Tokyo to here." "Hmm." "You wouldn't object if I married her." "I wonder where she's from?" "I'm going to look for her in Kamakura and all over Japan if I have to." "Asaji is probably home by now." "You'll go won't you?" "It doesn't look like I'll be able to go out." "They're watching me so closely." "Don't worry." "I'll help you." "Do you think it's really OK?" "Sure." "I'll help you, but you have to go out the window." "From the window?" "In situations like this you need at least enough courage to sneak out the window." "Did you call me?" "No." "I see." "She came to check on me." "She must think you're a fool." "Asa, look, there's a light on at Kasumi's place." "It's been a while." "Shall we bring her over?" "So what." "It won't make any difference even if she comes over." "Why do you say that?" "She won't come over anyway." "Yes she will." "She's not that kind of person." "Women give up on things easily." "You really think so?" "She'll play "Souvenir" if she's coming, and the Clemen piece if she's not." "I can hear it." "It's "Souvenir"." "Is that so?" "She'll come then." "That's what I told you." "She's not like that." "You give up much too easily." "I'm not that easy to get along with." "Sorry." "Maybe I'll get thrown out again." "That person in the train today, I think you'll like her." "Just like the way I like Kasumi." "Asa-chan, it's been a long time." "Don't cry." "But it's been so long." "When did you get here?" "This morning." "How?" "We were in Koishikawa this morning and my brother and sister came here, so I snuck out and came, too." "Did you call them?" "Yes." "Did they get mad?" "So what if they did?" "It was too late." "I was already here." "My tutors came chasing after me, though!" "I really wanted to see you." "Is it OK for you to be here?" "Tsukiko is at my place." "She's covering for me while I'm here." "I really wanted to see you." "Just before you came, he was saying that you wouldn't come and that it didn't matter if you did." "Yes, that's all he says these days." "It's because I'm gettintg married, but if I get married to anyone except Asa-cha, it's not because I want to do it." "That's what I told him: "Kasumi is not that kind of person."" "That's right." "That's what I always tell him." "If that's what you're going to say, you shouldn't have come." "I guess I'll be going." "Don't fight you two." "Well, take your time." "I sent you a letter via Kure-san." "I got it." "Already?" "I sent it yesterday." "How did it get there so quickly?" "Tsukiko brought it to me." "All the way from her place?" "Yes." "It arrived early in the morning." "She thought she should hurry." "It was just after I got back from Koishikawa and she came all the way from Tokyo to give it to me." "She chased after me all day she said." "That's nice of her to do that." "Thank her for me." "How long can you keep this up?" "I can keep it up as long as you can." "But it's not just me involved in this." "I want to know how long you can do it." "I can do it as long as I'm alive." "Can you really do that?" "Why don't you just get married?" "Because he's a dirty old man." "Remember, we promised that we would tell each other what's on our minds." "Yes." "Well, you've been acting wierd." "Just say what you want to say." "What?" "What you're thinking about." "You've been acting strange lately." "You want to marry someone else, right?" "What are you saying?" "!" "Really?" "But these days, I've come to realise that it just doesn't matter whether I see you or not." "What do you mean that "it doesn't matter"?" "I've lost my confidence." "I just don't know if I can be your husband." "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" "I'm the son of a mistress." "There you go again." "Didn't I tell you that my mother used to be a dancer." "But she's still married to your father." "That doesn't matter, that's just a formality." "No, it is important." "Formalities are very important in this world." "That's what they teach kids." "But compared to your mother, my mother is nothing at all." "You are probably thinking that I'm too vulgar." "That business again!" "You know, Tsukiko saw your picture." "She said that you're a very good looking guy." "Don't say that." "I hate being told that more than anything." "If you tell me that, I'll turn you down for sure." "What?" "Besides, it's not because of your beauty that I like you." "I understand." "Sorry." "You have to go." "Not yet." "But the last time you were out late with me you got such a scolding." "It was hard." "I'm thinking of going to America." "For once Mother agrees with the idea." "She told Yuji about it." "When?" "Before you get married." "Don't go." "I can't leave you alone." "But if you say that, you can't go home." "They're my parents, but they never think about me." "Are you really going to go to America?" "Have you forgotten?" "I haven't forgotten." "If I'm going to die, I want to die alone." "What about me?" "You don't need to die." "I'm sick of this world, that's all." "Alright." "I'll die alone, then." "But you have Kure-san." "She's a good friend." "Yes, and that's why I want to be with her as much as I can, and that's why I want to be with you." "And then you go off deciding on your own that ..." "Alright, let's do what we can together, and if we can't..." "Let's play tennis." "Nah." "That's why you look so pale." "These days you don't look so good." "Always drinking." "Is there something wrong with that?" "I don't feel good." "Life should be happy." "Come on." "I know." "So let's go!" "I'm going to change first." "I'll be waiting on the court." "Asa-chan there's something I need to talk to you." "What is it?" "I wanted to talk to you about this before, but you're never at home." "What is it?" "Well, there's someone who wants Yuji." "They want to adopt him into their family." "They're very rich and famous and they definitely want him." "They have been in the lumber business since the Edo period and are well-known lumber wholesalers." "They're the kind of people that think nothing of a million yen." "That would all be Yuji's." "They only have one daughter." "She's eighteen — maybe not the greatest, but she's going to a girl's college." "There's nothing special about going to a girl's school." "But Asaji, What do you think?" "You know Yamamoto Yuji's younger brother?" "He was over here." "He was their number two clerk." "He must have asked his brother or sister before coming." "I asked them for details and got a letter." "I said that I'd talk to him about it." "Look, there's all sorts of stuff in the letter." "She's good at singing." "Me too," "I was pretty good at it." "And she likes the same flowers I do." "We're a good match." "So if Yuji gets adopted, I can go along with him." "Mother!" "Yes?" "Well, what do you think?" "I think it's a good offer." "I think it would be good for Yuji." "Good for him?" "How's that?" "Wouldn't be really something if Yuji became rich?" "Just like that?" "'Just like that'?" "Does Yuji know about this?" "A little." "I mentioned it to him." "Asaji, are you ready yet?" "Hey, Yuji come here!" "Your mother wants to send you off to get adopted." "No I don't." "They want him and asking him what he thinks." "That's all." "That amounts to the same thing." "Yuji, do you want to become the adopted son of a rich family?" "Is this about the lumberyard people?" "It's not just lumberyard, it's a lumber wholesaler." "A wholesaler?" "I really don't want to be the husband of lumberyard owner." "Don't be stupid." "Big spenders are impressive people." "I know." "You told me about this yesterday." "Like I told you then, I want to marry someone I like." "If the person I like is the daughter of a lumberyard owner, I'd get in the lumber business." "If the perosn I like was the daugher of a fishmonger, I'd get in the fish business." "I'd do anything." "Didn't I tell you that?" "If you're so stubborn, you'll never make it in this world." "This is a good offer." "You should understand that the girl doesn't necessarily want to do it anymore than you do." "Think of her." "Yeah, well, that's the way it goes, isn't it?" "Things aren't as easy as you think." "Besides, all girls have their good points." "And above all, you have to think about the money." "Money?" "Are you talking about money again?" "Yes, money." "The only reason we're here now is because we have some money." "When your father died you guys were still young." "Lots of people told me to go back into the business and make some more money." "The reason we've been able to live as well as we do is because we have some money." "You don't necessarily need money to live well." "You say that, but I had a tough time raising you two and keeping things up here." "But even so, why do you have to lust after money now?" "So does that mean you two are going to waste the money we have?" "We're not going to do that." "No one's doing that." "But it's the same attitude." "You don't think about how to make money." "We're not going to use your money." "We know how important it is to you." "Why don't you find another guy and bring in some money that way?" "What are you saying?" "Let's get over this disagreement." "It's only human." "You're waiting for me to die?" "What a thing to say!" "You don't remember what it took to raise you." "Did you raise us for money?" "Did you hope you'd make something off of us when we grew up?" "I don't think so." "You just wanted to raise your kids and be near them, right?" "That's why you took us." "Of course." "Then let him marry someone who will make him happy." "Why?" "Does he have someone now?" "Maybe." "It's unclear." "But it has more of a chance to make him happy than what you're talking about." "But it would be a shame to pass up this offer." "In any case don't want to be the husband of a lumber dealer." "Well, I don't care how much you like her, just don't bring home some woman with a wierd mother." "You can't tell about the mother until I find a girl." "A maid is still better than a geisha." "What did you say?" "Say that again!" "Just what do you think your parents are?" "It's not going well?" "No, not at all." "Haven't you met Kasumi since that time?" "Just don't talk to me about Kasumi, will you?" "But—" "Let's try to be cheerful." "Cheerful, now!" "Madam." "May I have a moment." "What is it?" "The Kure girl is here." "She says she wants to see Kasumi." "This is trouble!" "I told her to go away, but she insists." "What shall we do?" "I'll go talk to her." "Perhaps someone's here." "And so you see, we tried to keep her in, but under these circumstances — it's terribly regrettable but—" "Tsukiko!" "Kasumi!" "I thought someone was here." "This is wonderful!" "Wonderful!" "Come to my room." "I'm so happy." "Watch them!" "Oh, I wanted to see you." "I tried calling, but they said that you were out every time." "They're really watching you aren't they?" "I had to bring tickets to my teacher." "I thought it may be tricky at the door." "It's great to see you." "I didn't" "I have to practice my piano." "Tsukiko come here." "Why all of a sudden?" "She's gone, isn't she." "She thinks that the piano is an art and that she shouldn't interfere with art." "Is that right?" "Yesterday was difficult." "Listen to this, Tsukiko." "Mother said that I had letters from Asaji and she started looking through my things." "They wanted me to open my desk drawer." "It was locked." "I said I lost the key, but they broke in and took the letters." "It was difficult to go through that." "I'll do anything to help you." "Just tell me what it is." "Thanks." "I do have a request." "Do you have a pencil?" "I do." "They took all of my pens and pencils." "Oh." "Would you take over at the piano for me?" "Could you give this to Asa-chan." "He'll know who it's from." "Don't read it!" "Put it in my handbag." "There's an envelope with my tickets in it." "Use that." "Alright, I'll use that." "Welcome." "Hello." "This is his mother." "He's from the Onoe's company, the Hitusjiya." "My name is Hoshino." "Pleased to meet you." "Pleased to meet you." "Have a seat." "You'll have to excuse my sons." "They didn't have a father, and it was difficult bringing them up..." "Is Asaji here?" "He's out playing tennis with Yuji." "Tell Asaji he has a guest who wants to see him." "Shall we let him know who it is?" "Hmmm..." "It doesn't matter." "Just tell him to come, then." "What is he up to these days?" "He's causing me a lot of grief." "Again?" "He's always fighting with me." "It's really trying." "Did he say that he would go to America?" "That might be your influence." "He says he wants to study something." "Is that right?" "Then he should take care of this Kasumi business as soon as possible." "It will probably be difficult for him to stay in Japan after we settle this business." "We talked about this before." "Thanks for talking with me about him." "When did all this happen?" "When you keep sweets in a box, it attracts bugs." "It's the same with sweet young things." "Did Oharu mention something to you?" "Asaji, this person says that he would like to talk to you." "My name is Hoshino." "I work for the Hitsujiya and there's a little, trifling matter I'd like to talk to you about." "What is it?" "This an errand on the bequest of my master's wife." "It's a rather delicate subject, so I—" "I think he knows what this is about." "It's about Kasumi." "Yes." "About the young Miss, it's these letters." "These are from you I believe." "When the Madam opened the young Miss' desk drawer the other day she found them." "We thought that they might be a source of embarassment for you." "We also thought that it may be, so to speak, mutually beneficial to settle our accounts with each other." "In light of that, I've brought these back to you." "If you want me to "settle accounts" that's completely fine with me, but let's drop the "mutually beneficial" business, shall we?" "I think you understand, Asaji, that the Onoes are in big trouble." "This is for the good not only of her parents, but for the whole company and its employees as well." "They are depending on Kasumi." "If it had been up to me, I would have preferred to let you do as you wish." "Speaking of wives, Hoshino-san, I hear that your wife is really something." "Onoe said that she was like an angel." "Hoshino Thank you, but she has a rather weak constitution." "Is that right?" "He needs a fine wife to present to Mr. Onoe." "What did they want from me?" "The Madam also requested that I bring back the letters the young Miss sent to you." "Asaji, do you have letters from Kasumi?" "Give them back." "Kasumi sure wrote a lot of letters." "Yes, it was almost daily." "Everytime the mail came there was a letter from Kasumi." "It was Hoshino right?" "That's right." "This is all of them, but I'm not giving them to you." "Asaji!" "I suppose that you're worried that I might use these letters against you." "No, no." "Let's burn them." "That's all of them." "If you think I'm lying, you're welcome to go and look for more yourself." "No, no, I understand." "I just want to tell you that personally, I didn't want to undertake this task." "Me neither." "One side is my family, and the other is a friend who's like a brother." "I didn't want to get between them." "That's for sure." "You took this like a man, Asaji." "There's one more thing I'd like you to try and learn from this without getting to upset about this." "You should go to America or England, or maybe you should buy some land." "In any case, we need to talk things over." "Actually, speaking of trips, in return for these letters, we'd like to give you something for your trip." "Look at this Asaji, it's a lot!" "Mother!" "Did you have anything to do with this?" "No, no I didn't." "Look, I'm the son of a mistress which is the same as being the son of a geisha." "But that doesn't mean I'm a geisha myself, so don't treat me like one." "I'm not in a position to take goodbye money." "Asaji, you're—" "I'm very sorry." "I was just executing the will of my master." "We're really sorry about this." "It must be difficult in your position." "I think I should be leaving." "Sometime again, perhaps." "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for you." "Please forgive me." "Leave!" "Leave all of you." "I will, I will, but think things over on your own, will you?" "Here you are, brother!" "I saw that person who was on the train again." "What's wrong?" "What did that guy say?" "What is it?" "Asaji." "Here she is, right here." "This is my older brother." "Hello Asaji." "I'm Tsukiko." "I've come on an errand from Kasumi." "To deliver a letter." "Please take it back." "Why?" "I don't want to have anything to do with Kasumi anymore." "Did something happen?" "Someone came from the Onoe's right?" "Yeah, just now." "What did they want?" "I don't know I wasn't home." "It couldn't have been anything on the up and up." "That's why Kasumi was worried about it." "In any case, you should read this letter." "Then I'm sure you'll understand." "Asaji, aren't you being a bit rude?" "I've delivered a lot of letters and done many things for you." "You said that you would return the favour when you saw me." "Sorry." "You're right." "I am being rude for being so indebted to you." "I want you to return the favour." "Please listen and understand." "I'm worried about a friend who is very important to me." "It wouldn't hurt you to talk over with me about how to help her." "Do you mind if Yuji comes along?" "No not all." "My brother said he was on the same train with you the other day." "That day I was bringing a letter of yours to Kasumi." "That's right, that day." "The atmosphere over there is just stifling." "Here it is." "Thanks." "Please read it." "She said it's really important." "That letter doesn't say anything about your promise or anything like that." "It just says that if anything came, it wasn't because she sent it." "What does it say?" "I'll take your reply." "It'll be difficult, though." "The last time I had to slip it in with the piano teacher." "The groom was supposed to come over today." "Kasumi's face looked like it was made of wax." "Kure-san, excuse me, but can you wait for my reply?" "Go ahead." "But your mother will be here soon." "You don't need to worry about that." "Then take your time writing." "It's not a letter." "My reply will be what you see." "What is it?" "You'll see." "Really?" "Just tell me what you want." "I do have one more request." "Yes?" "I know you might think this is rude, but do you like Yuji?" "Ever since he met you in the train he's been talking about you every day." "I don't know how you feel about him, but would you hang out with him?" "Please stay with him as long as you can." "I know it's kind of sudden, but please give him your answer now." "Perhaps you don't like him, though." "Thanks." "Yuji, keep it steady." "I'll be back in a moment." "When I come back, I'll give my reply to Kasumi-san." "Where are you going?" "I'll be right back." "This is strange." "What is it?" "Us being able to meet." "Actually, we met once before." "When?" "At the Olympic trials." "I saw you from the stands." "I thought it was you in the train the other day." "I asked Kasumi who you were." "My mother, too." "When she saw you in the train she told me that she had seen a really fine looking man." "And then what did she do?" "But she didn't know who you were!" "Oh, I see." "May I come in?" "It's my mother." "What shall we do?" "Asaji said that Yuji's bride was here." "Oh hello!" "Pleased to meet you." "Mother, this is Kure Tsukiko." "What nice clothes." "I'm very impressed." "Have a seat." "Is Asaji taking the car?" "Yes, he said he'd be right back." "Ma'am." "Telephone." "It's urgent." "What are you so excited about?" "Excuse me for a moment." "Your mother is funny." "That's all you get from her, but you know you can laugh." "Asaji?" "Oharu!" "Asaji is late getting back." "I wonder where he went?" "Yuji, hurry!" "What?" "Asaji!" "What?" "Asaji crashed the car." "Where?" "Just before Tsujido." "Off a cliff into the ocean." "I want to go with you." "Yu-chan, take me with you, too." "Miss?" "Miss?" "Miss?" "What's going on?" "The young Miss—" "What?" "We can't find her." "And after I told you to keep an eye on her." "Go out and check." "Make sure she doesn't see the Amanumas." "Miss Onoe is here." "Where have you been?" "Your parents called here." "I snuck out." "I'm glad you could make it." "I came to say goodbye." "It's just a couple more days, isn't it." "Did you give him that letter?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Kasumi, have you heard anything about Asaji?" "I doubt if anyone would have told you." "Kasumi, no matter what happens, I want you to be strong." "What happened?" "Asaji... died." "Thanks." "No one told me." "It was that day." "The day I gave him the letter." "In his car." "Tomorrow is the day they bury his ashes." "Tsukiko, take me to his grave." "Please." "Please take me." "But— there's nothing I can do now." "Asa-chan!" "What are you doing Yuji?" "Why are you carrying that around?" "What's wrong with it?" "Before we go out, leave it on the altar." "Never mind that." "No one will come once we bury the ashes." "Who won't?" "I wonder what Kasumi is doing?" "Who knows?" "She can do whatever the hell she wants." "No one's here yet." "But it's still only 9:30." "Tsukiko is coming isn't she?" "Yes." "That makes us two, Tsukiko, Utsugi and Hine." "Five." "One car will do." "Stupid." "Who?" "Asaji." "Dying like that." "Hey you!" "You're stupid, aren't you." "But you know, lot's of times you don't die even if you want to." "We shouldn't have met that guy from the Hitsujiya." "He was just upset about it and it affected his driving." "You don't understand mother." "What don't I understand?" "Nothing." "I don't like this." "Asaji was like that." "He didn't come to me even though he was in pain." "He didn't think about me." "Excuse me." "Come in." "We were waiting for you." "Where's Utsugi?" "He was out all night." "Isn't there a funeral?" "Why?" "Did something happen?" "Onoe-san's daughter —" "Did something happen to Kasumi?" "Kasumi is missing." "Since when?" "Since yesterday they say." "I wonder where she went." "Utsugi was in Koishikawa and met the Onoes." "He said he was busy and that he would be late." "She might be at Tsukiko's place." "Hine probably thought Kasumi was here." "Didn't it seem that way?" "If she really were here, I'd hide her." "Don't say that." "I wouldn't like it at all if she were here." "Excuse me." "Ah, come in." "Sorry I'm late." "Thanks for coming." "Tsukiko." "What's happened to Kasumi?" "Something terrible has happened to her." "We just talked to Hine and she just told us." "Did she go to your place?" "I've done something awful." "What is it?" "She was at my place yesterday." "She said it was to say goodbye." "I thought that she was talking about getting married." "I told her everything about Asaji." "I told her the burial was today." "She asked me to take him to his grave." "I told her to go home." "I shouldn't have told her that." "Did she go home after that?" "Yes." "So that means she went somewhere after that." "I saw her leave in a taxi from my place." "That's strange." "I should have told to her to stay at my place." "I didn't help her at all." "But you just did what anyone would have done." "She must resent me." "She wanted to come to here." "She wanted to see his grave." "But that would have been a lot of trouble for us." "Everyone thinks that she's here anyway." "I'm sure she's dead." "Don't worry." "She's probably trying to find a job somewhere." "She's stronger than people think." "That would be nice if it were true." "Those two liked each other." "Why couldn't they be together?" "Why didn't they like my son." "Of course, I couldn't have given them half a million yen." "Onoe had a good daughter." "Half a million yen!" "She should have held her nose and married that guy." "Mother!" "When people are young, they're crazy and think all sorts of romantic things." "Take Yuji." "People say he's sexy." "There's a young woman from a filthy rich family who says she definitely wants to adopt him into her family." "Mother!" "Stop it." "It's not a lie." "Nothing's decided for certain yet." "They're just interested, that's all." "It sounds good." "It does, but he doesn't like the idea." "If you don't like what I'm saying, I'll stop." "I'm going to get ready." "Are you angry?" "About what?" "About what Mother just said." "I didn't think anything of it." "But you seem to be deep in thought." "I was thinking about Kasumi." "What did your mother say?" "What did she say?" "No?" "She said no didn't she?" "Yuji, you should accept that offer to be adopted." "I told you not to pay attention to that." "That's not why I said it." "Why then?" "I want to go back on my promise to your brother." "Why?" "Why?" "I don't want to die." "And I don't want you to die either." "Why?" "Who said we have to die?" "You ask why?" "Why did Asaji and Kasumi die?" "If we do the same thing, we'll have to die, too." "Why do you say that Kasumi is dead?" "And my brother didn't—" "If you think about how he looked that day, I don't think it was an accident." "To tell the truth, I thought about that, too, but I don't want to think of him as someone who would commit suicide." "But I wanted to tell you the truth." "I think so too, but why do we have to do the same thing they do?" "Because we have to repeat the same thing." "I want to wait for a day when I'm stronger." "I understand." "Will you see me sometime?" "I'll be much stronger." "Until then." "Me too." "Sorry I'm late." "Come in." "Did they find Kasumi?" "Kasumi?" "She's dead." "Oh!" "She was there?" "Where was she?" "At her place." "She died in the pond in the back." "Oh my!" "In the pond." "She was in her coffin." "She couldn't escape her fate." "Wasn't there anything anyone could do?" "She'd been there for a while, so no, there was nothing anyone could do." "She lived her life in her father's house." "She must have wanted to die outside of it." "She got her wish." "It was a shock." "It was terrible." "Finally—" "It was difficult." "She was beautiful." "She went to her coffin while she was still wearing a maiden's kimono." "Kasumi is with Asaji." "They can be together now." "Asaji is happy now." "I hope things work out for them where they are now." "Yuji, goodbye." "What's up with her?" "Is she crazy or something?" "What's she doing?" "Kasumi ended up like that because she didn't listen to her parents." "She should have listened to them." "She could have been a good wife." "Yuji, you should go into the world instead of sitting around here." "That's stupid, mother." "Stupid!" "translated by:" "Guy YASKO"