Chapter 12
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Reluctantly, I took the smartphone off hold.
“This is Kawakami.”
“Ah, it’s been a while.”
A voice with a somewhat frivolous tone came through the speaker.
It was slightly more hoarse than I remembered, but there was no mistaking that it was that man, Seiichi Yoshikawa.
“Have you been well since graduating?”
“Yes, well enough. So, what do you need?”
“Haha, don’t be so cold. First, I wanted to thank you for taking care of my daughter.”
“I see.”
“Yes. I’m grateful you’re looking after my precious daughter.”
… Precious daughter, he says.
If she were truly precious to him, Tsubaki wouldn’t have had to come to stay with me in the first place.
“…Let’s skip the pleasantries. You probably don’t believe me anyway.”
“Yes, that’s true. So, can you get to the point? I’m quite busy.”
“Hey, teachers aren’t exactly free during summer break, you know.”
“So I’ve heard. All the more reason to get to the point.”
“Kawakami, you’re really harsh. Well, as you say… To be blunt, I’d like you to keep my daughter for a while longer.”
“…I already plan to keep her until the end of the summer break.”
“No, I mean even after summer break ends. I’ll cover her living expenses.”
“…What?”
What on earth is this man saying?
“You’ve probably heard a bit about it, but she doesn’t get along with my parents. They think they’re being strict for her own good, but their personalities are far from admirable.”
His frivolous voice continued to spew words I hadn’t asked for.
“Every day it’s nagging and yelling. It’s unbearable. I just want peace and quiet at home.”
Yet, he never says a word about Tsubaki or even about Mayuko, who took her own life.
Does he think there’s no need to remember her?
“You should consider the difficulties of being surrounded by emotionally sensitive teenage girls every day.”
“Then perhaps you should find another ‘stress relief’ among those sensitive girls?”
“…”
The annoying voice abruptly stopped.
“Even with your parents being influential in the school, it’s hard to cover up two cases of misconduct, isn’t it?”
“…”
For someone who was just babbling away, he didn’t respond.
Instead, there was a sound of shuffling and a click.
After a short pause, I heard a deep exhale. He was probably smoking a cigarette.
“…I didn’t realize you could hold a grudge for so long.”
“I’m just stating my honest thoughts and questions.”
“That’s called holding a grudge. Honestly…”
Another deep exhale followed.
“Sure, I was the one who initiated it. Back then, I was so stressed that I couldn’t handle it otherwise.”
“Oh, that must have been tough. How sad.”
“Don’t mock me. I admit, I took the easy way out. But I didn’t force or threaten anyone. I even told her that if she didn’t like it, she could report me, and I’d accept being fired. I wanted to quit teaching anyway.”
After his bitter words, I heard the sizzle of a cigarette being extinguished.
“Still, she willingly accepted my advances.”
…I should smoke one too.
“At first, it was just playing lovers, but soon she clung to me, saying no one else cared for her. She even tampered with contraceptives.”
The taste of bile mixed with the menthol smoke. It was better than the tarry taste when cigarettes get damp.
“And then, I found out she was still seeing someone else. She played the tragic heroine so well, it was a nightmare for me.”
Another click from the speaker.
“Anyway, after all that trouble, I won’t be looking for another ‘stress relief’.”
“…I see.”
“But back to the point, won’t you continue to keep Tsubaki?”
“I refuse.”
“As I said, I’ll cover her living expenses.”
“It’s not about the money.”
“I see. I thought it might be better for her to stay with you than to remain in a place where she’s treated poorly.”
That’s likely true.
However—
“That’s none of my concern.”
—I have no reason to be involved with her any longer.
My relationship with her mother ended over fifteen years ago.
“Well, if you say so. I thought it would benefit you too.”
“A benefit?”
“Yes. Tsubaki looks so much like her mother back then…”
—Click.
I reflexively ended the call.
More than half the cigarette had turned to ash. Even if I smoked the rest, it would taste awful. I should rinse my mouth, if only for a bit of relief.
As I crushed the long ash and extinguished the cigarette, I stood up, hearing a ringing in my ears.
So much like her mother back then…
The irritating voice blended into the static in my head.
…I didn’t need to be told that.
“So what…”
—Knock, knock.
A knock on the door interrupted my murmuring.
“Kawakami-san, are you done with your call?”
Outside, Tsubaki’s anxious voice came through.
“Yes, I just finished. What’s up?”
“Um, Mishima-san stopped by earlier…”
Is today really cursed? I need to handle this.
Opening the door, I found Tsubaki holding a grocery store bag. Her fingers holding the handles were slightly purple, and she looked much paler than this morning.
Given yesterday’s unpleasant encounter, it’s no wonder.
“Sorry for the trouble. I’ll deal with it.”
“Oh, no. She just dropped off this for lunch and left right away. I just wanted to let you know.”
“I see…”
With work to do, I’m glad she left quickly…
“Did she say anything unpleasant?”
“…No, nothing.”
Her voice trembled despite her words.
“Really, nothing? I can send her a message or call to complain if you want.”
“No, it’s fine. Besides…”
Tsubaki looked down and averted her gaze.
“This doesn’t concern you, Kawakami-san.”
…So she heard my conversation.
“Should I put the groceries in the fridge?”
“Yes, please. And I’ll return your phone now.”
“I understand.”
I went back to the desk, retrieved her smartphone, and handed it to her.
Her hand, briefly touching mine, felt unnaturally cold for summer.
It’s not just from the air conditioning.
…Why am I feeling sympathy now?
I just said it doesn’t concern me.
“Excuse me, then.”
Tsubaki bowed deeply and left for the living room without meeting my eyes.
I couldn’t find a single word to say to her retreating figure.