The first year of the Showa Era
Downtown Tokyo.
My name is Akifumi Endou, 42 years old, my family runs a sweet shop for generations. My wife died 2 years ago because of illness.
I walked back from a teahouse with a friend when my steps stopped at an antique shop. I saw the signboard, No. 49 Gen'ei Antique Shop.
Gen'ei?
My attention turned to an object on display in front of the window. A wooden glasses with light black cases. Looks old, but the condition is still good. Curious, I stepped into the store.
I pulled the door handle, and when the door opened, cold air immediately pierced all over my body.
Cling !!
"Welcome to our shop, dear customer. What can I do for you?"
I heard a man voice. I look for the origin of the sound when I see the dim light coming from behind the Shoji (sliding door). My eyes widened when a shadow suddenly appeared. Isn't humans. Animals? But, it's too big for the size of a pet. The shadow has many tails.
The nine-tailed fox?
No. There's no one like that.
Suddenly a young man appears from behind the shoji. He has chin-length, light blond hair and slender, light brown eye. He wears a simple, black kimono that is slightly opened and exposes his chest.
"Do you want to have something or throw away something?" he asked with a smile. His voice was the same as the sound I heard earlier.
I looked in the darkroom, but the shadow was gone.
"That ... is there a large animal that is kept here? Like...a fox?" I asked nervously.
"Hahaha...a fox? We do keep animals here. But, don't worry, they will not come out to the store," he laughed, then smiled.
I sighed with relief, "I'm interested with the glasses on display at the window," I said.
"I see. Is there something you regret in the past?" he asked, walked to the window to take the glasses.
"Sorry?" I feel confused about the question.
"For example, the regret that you feel after losing something very important and hoping to repeat time?" he turned around and stepped closer to me.
Somehow my whole body shivering, "I...I'm not so sure of that. Everyone must have regrets in the past, I guess, " I sighed.
"You're right," he gave me the glasses, "Please try it first," he smiled.
I took it from his hand and immediately put it on. Then look around me.
"Oh, your shop looks brighter. Without my glasses, I see it a little dark. It seems like my eyes have started to farsighted," I laughed.
"Brighter, huh? Is that so," he smiled, even his face looks brighter. A handsome young man.
"Can I have this one?" I asked.
"Of course. The antiques choose their owners, "
"Ehh?!" I'm a bit surprised.
"But, before that, I just wanted to remind you, that what you will see with these glasses is just an illusion. If you use the glasses too often, your soul will be swept away in illusion, and you won't be able to come back," he said with a cold tone but still keep his smile.
"I...I understand, " I don't understand why using glasses will sweep my soul away. This young man sure is strange, "Then, I will have this one, " I gave him some money, took the glasses then left the shop.
"Thank you for your patronage," I heard his voice from a distance.
The sun's rays dazzled my eyes when I left the shop. My body is warm. And I can breathe freely. I get an uneasy feeling while I'm inside the store.
In the evening, I intend to use these glasses to work. But, something strange happened when I used it. My eyes widened in surprise.
My wife, who died two years ago, was seen sitting at the veranda of our house. She sat alone while staring at the night sky.
I then removed the glasses, and the scene disappeared. I wear these glasses once again, and the scene returns.
An illusion?
My wife then turned her gaze to me and smiled. Her face looks brighter than the last time I remembered. She was beautiful as always.
If only, at that time I paid more attention to her condition and not only focused on work, she always cared for us.
Now...I understand what the young man said about regretting something.
This glasses reflected memories at the places where the owner spent their time. A long time ago, we always spent our time in this veranda.
I stepped slowly toward her, then sat beside her. She smiled at me while leaning her head on my side. I regretting that I leave her alone in her last moment.
Now, the memories are back, I don't care if this illusion will take my soul into darkness. I don't care, as long as I have these glasses, we will be together forever.
***
A few days later...
"Aoi! Stop wandering around the shop in that form. Your furs are scattered everywhere," Aki warned him while sweeping the floor.
"I'm sorry," Aoi giggled, still wandering around. But, in the second he changes to his human form and takes the broom from Aki's hand, "I don't believe I sweeping my own furs, " he sighed.
"Will there be customers coming today, Aki?" Chikage asked while sitting on the corner reading a book.
Aki looked at the door for a moment, "Apparently, someone will coming soon," she smiled.
Cling !!
"Welcome to our shop, dear customers. What can I do for you?" Aki asked with warm smiles.
A young man looked confused when he entered the shop. He looked around then looked at Aki who stood while looked at him, smiling.
"Ex...excuse me. Look ... I want to ask, are these glasses belong to this shop?" he showed wooden glasses placed in a light black case.
"Yes. It belongs to our shop. If I'm not mistaken, the glasses have been sold by a few days ago," Aki said, "Is your father okay?"
He looked at Aki with a surprised expression on his face, "He...he behaved strangely since wearing these glasses. He stopped making sweets and went to the store. He also stopped going out of the house and only spent time sitting on the porch of the house. I even saw him talking to himself, laughing to himself, and crying alone, " the young man looks scared.
"Is that so?" Aki looked at him with a sigh.
"One night when I returned from our shop, I overheard him talking to someone in his room. What surprised me was that he called my mother's name who died 2 years ago. When I asked, my father just smiled and said he was fine. The next day I accidentally touched these glasses and he immediately hit me. He had never done anything like that before, " he gripped the glasses case tightly.
"But, you finally take the glasses from him?" Aki asked.
The young man standing silent for a moment, "He fainted and was unconscious. He is currently being treated in a hospital. The doctor said is malnutrition. He kept talking deliriously about these glasses and my mother's name. I tried wearing them once, but I saw nothing, "
"You think that these glasses are the cause?" Aki asked again.
"I know it sounds crazy, but don't some antique have a strange thing? I don't know. But, after all, my father has been strange since he was wearing these glasses. He seems to see my mother when using these glasses. But, if it's true, why can't I seen it too?" the young man looked very confused.
"That's because you have no regrets," Aki said.
"Eh? Regret?" he looked at Aki.
"Your father still has regrets from the death of your mother 2 years ago. Regret that he kept deep inside his heart. He was sad for not being able to stay by your mother side at the last moment," Aki said, her soft expression never leave her white pale face.
The young man fell silent while staring at Aki for a moment, "I also depressed when my mother died. But, I know I must keep looking forward,"
"These glasses reflect what is in your father's heart. Something he wants to take it back. But, we warned him, " Aki said seriously, "Whatever he sees after using these glasses is an illusion. When your heart is weak, the illusion will easily take you, make you lose yourself, and get trapped inside. In the end, not only your body but your soul will be consumed by the illusion itself."
"What should I do? Can you do something?" he asked anxiously.
"I can't. But you can," Aki smiled.
"I can?" He looked confused.
"Don't make the same mistake as your father did to your mother. The illusion of your father arises because he feels lonely. When people feel lonely, their hearts will weaken, when the heart is weak, negative things will easily control us," Aki said.
The young man looked down.
"Since your mother died, no one has told him that it is not his fault. He alone carries the burden of that feeling every day. Even his only son busy with his own business,"
"I...I don't...think that my father will be that depressed, "
"You should tell your father that is okay now. Stay with him. I'm sure that is what your mother also wants," Aki smiled, "People who have died have only one wish for those who are still alive. To continue to live happily,"
The young man keeps looked down. Aki can hear sobbing. He then took a deep breath, wiped his tears with his arm and looked at Aki with red eyes.
"I return these glasses to you," he put the glasses on the table, "You don't need to give me the money back,"
"Then, I will keep these glasses here," Aki smiled.
The young man looked at Aki, "I'm glad to find this shop. My father didn't remember at all when I asked where he bought these glasses," he said confused.
Aki smiled, "Maybe it's because he wasn't supposed to come back here twice,"
Tale 4
End