After being forcibly embraced, Aiko cooked breakfast as usual the next morning. She didn't mind what happened the day before; she cooked meals as if nothing had happened and summoned the doctor to the dining room. She hasn't seen him since yesterday afternoon at noon. When she went to call the doctor during dinner time, he simply stated, "I don't need dinner."
She had been thinking about what to do, it was technically her fault also, if she was tough she could have defended. She signed and came near the doctor's door
"Doctor, I've had breakfast."
"Okay, I'll come down."
As he came, he didn't show signs of her and just sat at the table. He began reading the newspaper when he entered the dining room. When Aiko placed the soup on it, she wrinkled her brow and began to eat. Aiko, too, sat down quickly and grabbed the bread. The soup is brought to the doctor's mouth by the doctor.
"... It doesn't have enough salt ..." The doctor said, with wrinkles between his eyebrows.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
When Aiko tried to remove the salt from the table, the doctor's hand touched it. Aiko was shocked and withdrew her hand.
"... Aiko ..." The doctor stared at Aiko, who was scared, with a surprised face. After a beat, the doctor asks. "... Did I scare you yesterday?"
Aiko had trouble answering, As she was wondering, she heard the doctor's voice. "... I'm not angry, so to be honest, Were you scared ...? "
As the doctor's tone became softer, Aiko moved her gaze from her hand to his face. He urged Aiko's answer with a glance. Aiko grabbed the skirt tightly with both hands. she closed her eyes tightly and answered.
"...Yes..."
The doctor sighed. Raise his bangs and stand up.
He talked to Aiko, looking out the window. "... Actually, I still have the feeling of yesterday. I apologize for embracing you, but I can't afford it. Even today, I'm likely to hold onto your will until I realize that you belong to me. "
Aiko became scared as he stared at Aiko's eyes. Her heart beats faster and stops breathing. For a while, both of them were frozen. It was the doctor who broke the silence.
"... I think it's better to stay away from me for a while. You don't want to be forcibly embraced by me who is angry, right? "
"...Yes..."
"I will write down the research results myself, which is difficult to dictate, so you can take a vacation."
"...holiday." She was shocked hearing this. Aiko hasn't had a full day off since she started working as an assistant. she didn't mean to leave the doctor in such a state, but getting a break made her feel a little lighter.
"...Is that ok?"
"I'm happy because my employer says it's good. I'll join as soon as I'm done.
Well, it's summer, so go to our villa. It's a small place along the coast. You seem to like the beach ... "
"Yes I love it"
"Good, I'll arrange the beach house for you when wherever you want to leave"
As she thanked him. When he left his seat saying he would contact the beach house, Aiko was thrilled by the story of her sudden vacation.
Aiko hurriedly packed up and boarded the train in the afternoon. When she sat in the reserved seat, she sighed. After a long time, she felt like she was able to breathe properly. Beyond the train window, the light was shining like a curtain through the gaps in the cloudy clouds.
She thought to herself, "It's very painful to be with the doctor now ... so maybe it's better to stay away."
As she looked through the window she said, " What kind of place will the beach house be ?"
It was a time when Aiko was thinking of an house by the sea that she hadn't seen yet. Suddenly a voice came
"A in row 5 ... Isn't it here?"
An elderly woman appeared in front of Aiko. Aiko wondered if she was sitting next to her. The train slowly accelerated and the woman lost her balance.
"Ah ... dangerous!" Aiko grabbed her wrist as a stranger stood on one leg.
Then the woman regained her balance and managed to step on with both feet.
"Ah, thank you, young lady" The lady smiled with relief and sat next to Aiko.
"No, you're welcome"
As they sat, the lady offered her some rice crackers which Aiko took
"Where are you going" said the lady
" To my Boss's beach house as he gave me to spend my vacation there"
"That's nice"
"What about you ?" Aiko asked her
"I'm meeting my daughter"
" Oh that's nice"
As the lady poured the tea she asked again "How far is the place you'll be staying?"
"It's a couple of blocks away from the beach "
"Oh, I see. It's pleasant weather, the sea is beautiful and there is a delicious cake shop. "
When Aiko became interested in the cake shop, the lady told her the name of the shop. the train rattled and carried Aiko to the town. As they came off, they bid each other and when to their respected paths. When she came out she saw a person waving at her
"Mrs. Aiko !? Hiro contacted me. I'm Yoshi, the keeper of the beach house."
A fat woman with curly hair showed a nice smile. When she met her for the first time, she felt like Aiko had been there before.
"I'm Aiko Suzune, thank you for two weeks."
Aiko bowed with a slap. The caretaker named Yoshi was said to live in the house as a couple. On the way to the beach house by car, Aiko was asked various things instead of greetings.
"So you are Hiro's assistant?"
"Yes. I'm a newcomer and It's a little mess trying to figure his working ..."
"Ah, everyone is the same at first. You're doing your best. If you take a rest here, you can work again. "
The car entered a side road from the coastline. Riding on narrow, unpaved roads. Gradually, a large lawn jumped into my eyes.
"Now, Aiko-chan. This is the Yamanashi beach house."
It was a huge villa, The outer wall, which is made of fine wood, has become reddish brown over the years. It was a two-story building, and the roof had an uneven shape.
"Wow .... The view looks good. Nice ..." The old Beach house had a beach side exterior and the interior was antique. On the day Aiko arrived, Lady Yoshi served local seasonal fish dishes. Mr. Yoshi also recommend her sake.
"Aiko-chan has a delicious drink. sake is also a specialty here." Said Mr. Yoshi
"Thank you"
As they gave a tour she could find many rooms were kept
"wow, there are plenty of rooms"
" Mr. Yamanashi's wife and Hiro's mother is supposed to come during Aiko's stay, but it's okay because there are so many rooms. You know her too."
"Oh really"
"I'm going to be with the doctor's mother. I'm nervous. I have to be careful not to get sick ..."
"Don't worry, She's a great master"
As she look at the beach she could feel the breeze, "wow the beach is amazing"
"Yeah. The beach here is beautiful. Go early and have fun."
"I don't mean to trouble you all"
"Its okay, just go and will set up your room"
"Okay then I'll leave"
For a while, Aiko was free to read the books she brought, stroll around the seaside towns, and walk the guard dogs of the old Beach house. However, after two days, she had more time to spare, so she bought a swimsuit and boarded the beach. When she changed into swimwear, she applied a strong sunscreen and swayed by the waves.
"It's great to have a person who comes to this beach... I might be able to do this all day long. But if I do it every day like this, I will not be able to do housework and work every day in Tokyo. "
The rhythm of the waves gradually became unpleasant, and Aiko went up to the beach. As she rested near the sands, a voice came
"Sister, are you alone? Would you like to play with us?"
Looking at the voice, two men of the same age as Aiko stood beside her.
Both are tanned and one has a piercing .
"I'm alone ... I have a boyfriend. If you touch me, you guys will be killed."
"Oh my god. It's more fun to be with us apart from that."
A, well-built man held Aiko's shoulders. she couldn't shake it off, probably because she was swayed by the waves and lost her strength.
"Yeah ...! lets go, then ...!"
" Let's take you to the shade of the rock."
"Hey ...?"
As she tried to call for help ────. When Aiko felt a sense of crisis, she heard a wrinkled loud voice.
" Aiko !?" Surprised by the loud voice in the immediate vicinity, Aiko looked at the voice. A woman, who was helped by Aiko on the train, approached there with a cane in her hand. She was wearing a flashy horizontal striped swimsuit.
Everyone around het looked at her. Behind her were some men.
As the boys saw the men, they let her go and fled.Aiko was relaxed, she took a breather and looked at the woman, and she was happy to wink. Aiko thanked the men as they left.
"Thank you ... Thank you."
"Thank god I saw you by chance. I was helped by you the train and I'm thankful. I sunbathe on the beach here every day. It was a good time killing. a"
Seeing the back of the woman giving a bow, Aiko suddenly wanted to be talk. She wants someone to give her company.
"Ah ..., why don't you go for a cup of tea? I want you to talk a little ... " Aiko made the flexion smaller.
The lady stared at Aiko and spoke. "... I'm worried about something. It's okay. Let's talk if you're okay. The cake shop I was talking about on the train is nearby, so let's change clothes. "
At the cafe attached to the cake shop, Aiko ordered a layer of strawberry shortcake and a lady's recommended iced coffee. she sat face to face with the lady and saw off the waitress.
"This store takes a little time to get the goods.
" I see"
As the lady saw Aiko's expression, she asked," Are you okay"
"No, just worried"
She smiles and asks a refill , " Go on, tell me your worries? "
Aiko clenched her skirt tightly. "I have someone I'm dating ... I'm an employer.
I was pressed by his friend and suddenly I couldn't shake it off.When he found me, he was very angry ... I thought I was scared for the first time. I don't know what to do, Is this normal? "
"... You're bad, but you're a young woman. You're not bad. I think he had a bad time and the range he could forgive was narrow. If you take a selfish attitude, you should get angry with the momentum to break up. "
"I get angry ...?"
"Yes. He wouldn't think you would get angry. Sometimes he should put up moxibustion."
"That's right ... I didn't even think about it ..."
Aiko felt that somewhere in her head was clearing. The ordered item has just arrived at the table. A dark-skinned waitress smiles and puts a plate on it.
The lady sipped iced coffee.
"In the old days, a man like you were thought to be masculine. A man who wants to bind a woman. I'm quite old. But you have the right to choose.
Will you come to terms with him forcibly, or will you change your workplace and live?"
Hearing this Aiko felt embarrassed. She smiled and hold her face, "you have a pretty face, I know... It's quite difficult, though. " the lady happily winked.