After school hours, a warm, orange sunset came outside.
Tomoyuki and Tamotsu stood facing each other in the empty school office. Completely alone, and there was a rather worried expression painted on their faces, by which one could tell how uncomfortable their conversation was for both of them.
A few minutes earlier, wary of Akiko's words during their previous gathering, Tomoyuki had summoned Tamotsu for a private conversation, stating that he was going to discuss something important with him. The blue-eyed guy couldn't quiet his thoughts about Tamotsu and his personal life, so he ventured to ask him directly.
"I couldn't get one thing out of my head all this time..."
As the conversation progressed, Tomoyuki realized that his wariness was indeed true, so his tone of voice was more exuberant at the moment. Tamotsu, on the other hand, tried to hide his nervousness and soothed himself from within, thus appearing outwardly haughty. The effect of Tamotsu's indifference had a strong effect on Tomoyuki's nervousness.
"I feared it might be true. All the docking, which I tried my best to deny and keep to myself, turned out to be true, to my deep regret..."
Tomoyuki's hands clenched into fists, and his stricken look made Tamotsu shudder and feel sorry for himself.
But Tamotsu did not interrupt him.
"You are hiding something unkind from us, you need not lie to me. For I myself... was the same. You are the one who confessed his love to Yumiko-chan long ago. What do you want from Yumiko-chan? Are you plotting some sort of meanness?"
"I don't know what you mean, Tomoyuki-kun. Please stop these agitations..."
"If possible, then come back to us, be the one we all know... But if that's not going to happen... then please don't deal with us again after the school year is over. I don't know what you want from us or what your goals are, but I ask you to leave Yumiko-chan out of it."
"But what have I done to deserve such an opinion toward myself?"
"I can tell by a mere glance what a man hides in himself."
Hearing his strong statement, Tamotsu took a deep breath, and this time his eyes seemed rougher--sharp as a shark's, and his voice grew deeper, as if he had matured in a matter of seconds.
"Even sloths break their composure at some point. And what did you, Tomoyuki-kun, see in my eyes?"
"You are multi-faced, of that I am sure for sure... But lord, what have you been through...? From the beginning of our acquaintance I had double thoughts, as if you and I had met before, but now I'm sure for sure..."
During the brief pause the blue-eyed man took to catch his breath, Tamotsu looked extremely anxious, which affected his peace of mind.
"You and I are very much alike."
"What...?"
"I want to lend you a hand, Tamotsu-kun, so that you won't have to grapple with further delusions about existence in the future. Take it from me, or it will lead you into utter darkness."
As he finished his speech, a sly laugh escaped Tamotsu's lips, accompanied by a strange swaying of the body. He wrapped his palm around his face to hide it, and soon his eyes darted out.
"It is not by laws alone these people live. And anyway, do these laws and customs matter when, at the snap of their fingers, men of high society can ruin the lives of innocent people? And everything will be erased, just as fictitious cases of harming people are no more. Gone into oblivion, all evidence of involvement in vicious deeds will disappear."
...
"W-what...? W-who are you? How do you know about all this...?"
Tomoyuki lost his composure and regained his composure. His heart rattled when he realized what Tamotsu really meant by his words.
But to his question Tamotsu nevertheless dared to answer. He lifted his head leisurely toward his interlocutor and spoke in a bassy voice which horrified Tomoyuki:
"I am Akito. Yumiko Sato's brother."
Tomoyuki's thoughts dulled as suddenly Tamotsu turned toward the door and stepped toward the exit. Following that, he said:
"Wait...! Nonsense! What is the meaning of this? Where are you going?!"
Tamotsu, whose hunted gaze was unseeing to the blue-eyed young man, dared not stop, leaving Tomoyuki to stand still and stare after him as he walked away.
"My goals cannot take back," he said one last time. "Accept it, and shall we have a better life."
Tomoyuki, surrendering, hung his nose and closed his eyes.
When both were sure that would be the end of their conversation, Tamotsu suddenly cringed — the pain in his eye sockets was rapidly growing, his veins tensing, making him shudder and covering his eyes with his palm, arching his back slightly.
'It hurts...!'
Tomoyuki, noticing his strange behavior, turned in his direction and shouted his name, concerned for his health. Tamotsu waved his right hand, indicating openly that he should not shorten his distance any further.
"Don't come any closer. It's none of your business!" and in his tone of voice one could hear regret.
Tamotsu was not going to continue the conversation, which was clear from his irritated face, and then Tomoyuki straightened his body:
"I wish you no harm, by no means... Let's leave this till next time..."
Tamotsu was surprised and gaping at his words, but he did not answer. He walked out of the office, continuing to grip his sore eyes with his hand.
***
Toward evening, when the sun disappeared from the horizon, leaving the fading rays behind him, Ryo was already in his house. Megumi was also in the house, arriving earlier than usual, and they were eating dinner together at the same table.
"Ryou-kun, are you ready for tomorrow's exams?"
"Yes, I'm not worried about tomorrow. Seems to me you shouldn't worry about such things at all, for unnecessary worrying will get you nowhere."
"Still, it's not easy for teenagers these days. All these examinations, though they serve the purpose of testing the knowledge you have acquired during your year of study, but they put a lot of pressure on you. Combined with the endless stream of thoughts that you will soon be moving on to adulthood, you are pelted with more and more tests and another test for university admission.
"I don't worry too much," Ryou put his head up to his hand. "But about adulthood..."
"I won't believe you haven't thought about what the future holds for you."
Megumi's calmness was unrelenting. She did not reveal the slightest bit of emotion.
"Of course I wonder. I think I've already found my way."
"Hmm, are you really going to stay in Tokyo? Up to this time I was sure you would move to study abroad, for with your brains you would be admitted to any university."
"It took me a long time to make that choice, and I realized that I would stay here."
"I didn't think for long, though, considering that my decision was made in a couple of moments. I want to stay with my friends in Tokyo, and that is my final choice."
"I see. However, have you chosen what major you're going to study next?"
"I don't know what kind of job I might like... By the way, sister, you also studied in Japan — what's the occasion? I was sure you were doing well with your studies."
"Parents."
"Ah, I see... As always, they interfered in the wrong way..."
"But that's no reason to be sorry, for everything in my life is fine now. And to you, Ryou-kun, I would advise you to choose a path that you will not regret. You have complete freedom of choice, so take every opportunity to surpass your father. That's what you've been striving for since childhood, isn't it, so he can finally look up to you with pride?"
Ryou, noticing the serenity with which his sister looked at him, withdrew into himself. His eyes lowered, and he began to think about her words, which penetrated right into his soul. All his hatred of his father was really just childish stubbornness, to make someone look guilty, to make it easier on himself. His childish determination to prove how wrong his father was about everything was manifested in Ryou's disdain for the family business he was bound to inherit.
"Well," she added, bringing Ryou back down to earth, "I hope my admonition helps you in some way."
"Sister, do you remember that tale you told me time and time again as a child...? Of the quiet, deep forest, where man's bitterness didn't reach. Those words of yours... could not have come from nothing. Does it exist?"
"Ah, you still remember... Yes, it exists. I was there once, with my mother, in a coniferous forest in the countryside. It really made my blood run cold-so mesmerizing there."
"You kept telling me we would definitely be there. Sister..."
"Yes, we will."
Her answer reassured the young man, and he could breathe a sigh of relief.
"I wish I could see that forest."
"Ah, Ryou-kun..." she was touched by his bitterness covered words. "I give you my word, we will surely..."
Suddenly, she was interrupted by a knock at the front door, whereupon she rose from her chair.
"I think it's the delivery man," she said, stepping toward the hallway. "I'll have to sign for it. Please, go ahead with your dinner."
Ryou nodded, his sister gave him her warm smile, and soon removed herself to the front door. She opened the door and saw the courier with the clothes she had ordered earlier online. She was asked to sign for and pay for the delivery.
Her phone, which was lying on the kitchen table, vibrated three times, and that caught the attention of Ryou, who was sitting next to her. Although peeking into other people's phones was not allowed, the young man was curious to see if Megumi had found a boyfriend. Ryou was confused, so he decided to look into her phone to quench his curiosity.
Three new unread messages popped up on the screen from the account she had designated as "Father," which made the young man a little wary.
[Father: "How are you feeling? I hope Ryou's studies are going well. If he needs any financial help, please let me know."]
Ryou's body went into a stupor. The messages this caller wrote were definitely composed by his father, but the teenager couldn't elementarily understand why it was necessary to write such things to find out his and Megumi's business. All his eighteen years he thought his father didn't care about his children.
***
The day of the general examinations uncompromisingly arrived, and the school was full of anxiety among the students. The morning time was frustrating for the students as they took their exams, and many of them seemed sleepy, which meant that they were relatively ready for the very process of taking the tests. Club members took the tests in different classrooms, but at the same hour.
They also spent that time in peace, not trying to overwork themselves, except Akiko herself, who wanted to achieve at least a score that she could be proud of, both to herself and to the others. Yumiko, fortunately for herself, had spent the entire time in a tranquil state of mind, which made her able to think critically. The boys also showed little anxiety in the direction of their exams, and no nervousness could be read in their eyes, so the literature circle, or rather its members, turned in their versions at the same time and much earlier than the other students.
The final examinations, which had begun on the morning of the new day, were already rapidly ending at twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Remarkable for its freshness and warm weather, the street was breathtaking in its modesty, and the friends, gathered at the exit of the school, rejoiced at the charming clarity of the day.
Soon they met again as the results came in, and the tranquility of nature seemed to take over the members' ears, interrupting all their conversations, and that moment seemed most imprinted on their memories. The harmony around them intensified each time a joyful Akiko shared her emotions with the others, telling them how hard she had worked and scored a remarkable score for her.
What seemed strange to Tamotsu, Tomoyuki didn't react negatively in any way when he was around him, and as they calmed down, they stopped paying special attention to each other.
The bright smiles of her friends dazzled Yumiko's mind, and she realized the value of this pastime at the school's exit.
"Mari-chan will be glad when she hears this news...! She was so worried about me this morning that I almost cried... the way I love her, she's so cute."
Akiko spoke with such joy that she was ready to burst into tears immediately.
Looking at their faces time after time, Yumiko was convinced of the individuality of each of them, and happiness was sure to overtake her.
'I realized... how much I admire them. When I look at them, I involuntarily wonder if I am even worthy of their attention, because they are so charming, and their spirit sometimes strikes me through... So good they are. My purposefulness in no way compares to their inner selfless desires... It finally dawned on me how much I treasure this companionship and unity around us. Tamotsu-kun, Attyan, Tomoyuki-kun, Ryou-kun, Glenn-kun... I am proud of myself when I have the opportunity to honor you as my loved ones.'
Akiko's happiness was limitless. So was the passion of Glenn and the others at the sight of her wide smile. Subdued by them, Yumiko lowered her head and closed her eyes to hear the faint breeze that blew through their hair, and she perked up.
'I want to see you happy, but most importantly, I want to see you free of prejudice. Leave the rest to me, for you have earned your rest. I will help you in every way I can, but I ask you henceforth not to hold yourselves back and move forward to a happy future in which we will surely meet!'
Yumiko regained her long-forgotten confidence and dealt with her negative reasoning about her plan and herself.
'Her thinking is adolescent, no matter how smart and sensible she is,' thought the father at the time, as he and his daughter strolled around the outskirts of downtown Tokyo. 'Kids are kids, and parents can't be wrong about that. Just as they can't be wrong about the decisions they make. I will always see her as a little girl and, by extension, a daughter, and she will never stop looking forward to the future she is heading toward.'
***
Megumi, Ryou's sister, who was sitting rankly on a bar stool at the bar counter, listened patiently to her interlocutor on the phone and rather turned the phone off, putting her cheek to her palm, causing her hair to fall down slightly.
It was one of the following days.
Her irresistible gaze and dark blue eyes clearly showed her steadfast and reserved nature, and nothing around her seemed to bode ill for her. Rising from her chair, she headed for the exit of the bar, and from the window she could see the bitter sun setting, covering the horizon.
'The ideals of the older ones keep pace with the younger ones on the unchildish path they strive so hard for. In the blink of an eye the little boy who was still so close turns into a mature teenager, and you can no longer treat him as you used to, because as his age changes so does his disposition.'
A short time later, she was already riding the bus, gazing quietly at each person who passed on the walkway.
'No one has been able to avoid growing up, and no one has any control over it. No matter how hard you try, life flies before our eyes. One instant you were a carefree girl dreaming of toys, and the next moment you're already a conscious girl chasing good goals. Eventually you dip your head in the water, and when you wake up, you see in front of the mirror a grown woman with many problems hanging over her shoulders and a whole story behind her. Only one thing remains the same: respect for the people closest to me. That's what keeps me alive, finding the light that lifts me back up, away from meaningless beliefs. Your wings are trampled, but you keep aiming onward, upward.'
Megumi slowly opened her eyes.
'Isn't that what you're feeling right now, by any chance? Otherwise I wouldn't have heard your voice through the call."
***
Graduation day has arrived.
For high school graduates, it's a holiday that in most cases ends in joyous emotion, because it's a day students have been striving for since the beginning. To graduation day.
Traditionally, all the graduates spoke in the auditorium in front of hundreds of students and all the teachers, and the keynote speech was given to the most successful student who had the highest expectations. That student was Yumiko Satou.
She was not a shy girl and had prepared for her speech in advance, having learned it by heart the day before. At the end of the speech there was a storm of applause from the assembled students, and everyone hugged someone important to them, for the next time this moment might not come. It was not without tears for some, but for Tokyo High graduates, anything was possible on this day.
Masumi, who rose from the sidelines, amicably thanked the graduates of the literary club with the arrival of the most important day in their youth lives, and promised them that the club would not be abandoned.
At the same moment, Tamotsu ran up to them and, slightly out of breath, announced loudly to them:
"I promise your efforts are not going to be in vain! I, as the new head of the literary club, will not leave it and will develop it just as you did... Your club is in good hands!"
They were unspeakably surprised at how sincere Tamotsu was on this subject. Yumiko, haughty that she had not made a mistake in choosing such a new member as he, said:
"Please make the literary circle even better than it was in our hands. We are sure you can do it, for we have no doubts about you, Tamotsu-kun."
"O-Obviously!"
"Of course!" Masumi clapped the tenth-grader cheerfully on the shoulder. "Where will he go? Yeah, and I'm not going to quit supporting either. Anyway, you've made me realize that this circle does a lot more to benefit the students than the others."
'That day has come,' each of them exclaimed in their thoughts. 'Graduation day, how wonderful it is. I will long for this place. This hallway. That school uniform that had always pissed me off before. The school hallway... Our clubhouse... As much as we would like to come back here in the future, we have to let this place go. Let it go for the good of our future.'
The next day, they gathered together to sip on the new air outside and proudly declare themselves graduates of an unremarkable school.
Glenn, who had asked them not to wait for him, showed up with the big news, and as the boys sat down at a large table at a local fast-food restaurant that sold soup and similar goodies, he straightened his chest and said:
"Masumi-sensei informed me this morning and sent joint tickets for a hike to the hot springs in my direction through acquaintances!"
The boys cheered and clapped lightly.
"Why did she take such special care!" Tomoyuki soon asked.
"All because Glenn has known the teacher for a long time," Ryou answered him. "Have you really forgotten that?"
"Ah... That's right! I knew, just pretending. Still, I still don't understand why she's being so familiar with you. Aren't you, by any chance, her favorite?"
"Sure. Well, Glenn-kun, what did she abruptly award us this gift for?"
"Said she wanted her smartest and closest students to rest before the next stage in their lives. I will never believe she would say such a thing."
"It doesn't hurt to care. I wonder why we became such close students to her if we see her in school the way we see other teachers. And she didn't teach us in any subject, either..."
"While she kept in touch with us the whole time, and was on the same wavelength as us. Why do you care so much?"
"Anyway," Tomoyuki retorted, "I'm more interested in the question of when we can use these tickets and have a friendly relaxing time in nature."
"The exact number to visit is set for a date three days later. So in three days these tickets will be available for use."
"In three days? That's great news!"
"Uh-huh," Akiko dutifully entered the dialogue. "In that time, hopefully, we can solve the problems of joining the university. We should hurry!"
"Tamotsu-kun, do you have any desire to go to the hot springs with us?" Yumiko asked.
"It looks like I won't be able to join you. I apologize."
"Don't be. If you have more important things to do, you'd better do them."
With one indisputable fact in mind, Akiko lost a great deal of her enthusiasm and unknowingly took in the abandoned view.
"Glenn-kun, you can't join us either... can you?"
All the attention of the gathering shifted to Glenn, whereupon he lowered his eyes.
"Yeah... I'll definitely have to have a long checkup and thorough prophylaxis that day, which I can't avoid. In fact, the doctors are worried about my future health and aggravation, so I'll have to spend a few more months on a prevention program. To them, I am an important specimen with valuable information, and a cure would be a medical sensation. At the same time, I have already been confronted with the fact that my eyesight will no longer return to normal, making it impossible for me to shake off my glasses..."
This news made the boys suppress their amusement, so they fell silent, and Yumiko imperceptibly lowered her gaze.
"Don't worry, everything is fine with me at the moment, and my symptoms are disappearing little by little, which has a great effect on my health. Don't miss the chance to enjoy nature, because that doesn't happen very often in the life of an ordinary person. Without my presence, you will also be able to relax."
"Still, it's sad that you won't be there, but at least thank you for warning us in advance..."
Reluctantly, Ryou replied, deeming it necessary to tell his unobtrusive opinion.
"And yet," he continued, "our gratitude to you is unlimited, Glenn-kun. We'll be sure to refresh ourselves in the clean air. It's a feast for me to meet this spring with you."
"Great. Thank you for your understanding."
"I really want to go camping with you, too," Glenn inadvertently thought, and sighed with relief, for his apology went smoothly.
***
The rays of the scarlet sun quietly began to disappear from view, and not a hint of a sunset was visible behind the hundreds of high-rise buildings. Megumi, meanwhile, reached the rendezvous point indicated by her interlocutor during a phone call with her.
"A quiet coniferous forest, where no human unpleasantness has reached... How beautifully put. At least because that place really exists. But are Ryou-kun and I destined to see it again? Do we deserve... to have one foot in paradise?"
The meeting place was a public park near the central district. Her interlocutor had chosen this spot as a rendezvous point for a reason — it was perfect for a business conversation, more so because of its modesty and the infrastructure surrounding the park.
As she stopped at the entrance to the park, she glanced at its name, which was written in large print on the archway, and then at her companion, who had arrived a moment earlier.
'Can you... prove your loyalty to the people around you, as 'he' proved earlier?'
Megumi began to look spirited, but without losing her composure, and a sincere expression of magnanimity appeared on her face, which gave her interlocutor a reassurance.
The person standing in front of the unresponsive woman with the charming figure was a brown-eyed girl, dressed in warm spring clothes and smiling naively in her direction.
"How are you feeling, Yumiko-chan?" said Megumi, smiling peacefully.
"Do you think," she responded, "that there is justice in people's decisions?"