“Huh?”
“Who does she think she is, calling me fat? She doesn’t have all that great a figure herself. What the hell is her problem?”
“Are you talking about what she said yesterday? Don’t be stupid, that wasn’t what she said at all.”
“That’s exactly what she meant! Didn’t you get it? That’s why everyone calls you a fool. Stand up for yourself. Can’t you see everyone’s laughing at you? They call you the limp celery.”
“What are you talking about?”
“How can you not see it? Acting all moonstruck, going around simpering, Ms Hamamoto, your skill on the piano is superb! I would love to hear some more! Why are you trying to worm your way into the affections of such a child? You’re an executive. Top management. Behave like it! You’re making me ashamed.”
“I am behaving like it.”
“You’re not! The only time you’re not smiling like a fool is when you’re with me. And then you do nothing but find fault. At home you’re always in a foul mood but when you’re out in public, you’re always sucking up to people. Try putting yourself in my shoes. She sees me as the wife of a man like that and that’s why she treats me that way. That’s what’s really happening, isn’t it?”
“That’s just the salaryman’s lot. Sometimes that stuff is unavoidable.”
“It’s not just sometimes. That’s why I’m bringing it up!”
“And who do you think you owe it all to—that you even have the opportunity to complain like this? There are wives all over Japan stuck in public housing, never able to go out anywhere, go travelling. But you can call yourself an executive’s wife now, you’ve got your own house, and a car to drive yourself wherever you want. Who do you owe all that to?”
“Am I supposed to say that I owe it all to your bowing and scraping and fawning over everybody?”
“Exactly!”
“Really, now?”
“Well, how else do you expect me to have got where I am?”
“Have you heard what that old lech, Kikuoka, and his slut secretary call you? It’ll open your eyes.”
“What does the wilting old chrysanthemum call me?”
“He calls you ‘that brown-noser, Kanai’.”
“Everybody says that kind of thing behind people’s backs. It’s not a bad price to pay for a generous annual bonus.”
“But people are bothered by the way you suck up to the old walrus. There’s no way I’d be caught doing that.”
“You think it’s fun for me? The only way I’ve ever been able to stand it is by thinking of my wife and children. I’m doing it with clenched teeth. You should be thanking me. You’ve no right to complain at all. Or perhaps I shouldn’t have brought you? Eh?”
“Oh, no, I wanted to come. I think that I’ve earned the right to visit nice places with you from time to time, to eat good food. Usually you’re the only one who gets to do this fun stuff.”
“Now you think I’m having fun? Don’t contradict yourself! You just said that I’m humouring the old pervert. You can’t just turn it around and say whatever you like. You’ve got a nerve, woman!”
“It’s that Eiko and Kumi who are ruining the whole thing for us. Why did I come? I don’t understand it. Kumi’s a complete airhead. And she treats you like her own employee.”
“Are you kidding? You’re really imagining things now.”
“I’m not imagining anything!”
“She actually has her good points. She has quite a good heart.”
Hatsue’s mouth fell open.
“What did you say?”
“What now?”
“You are absolutely beyond hope. You have no idea how she sees you, do you?”
“And you really do overthink things.”
“Are you saying that I think too much?”
“Yes. You’re too suspicious. You can’t go through life being that way. You’ve got to toughen up.”
“You call sucking up to Kikuoka, and being bossed around by his mistress being tough?”
“I sure do. A weaker man would never be able to kowtow to someone all day long. I’m tough enough to do it.”
“Ugh. I’ve heard enough.”
“I don’t have any respect for the Chrysanthemum. He’s just got a good head on him for making money, and so I’ve plenty to gain by sticking by him. Most of the time I feel like killing him; in fact last night I had a dream where I split his bald head open and a bunch of petals came showering down. It felt really good.”
“What about Kumi?”
“Kumi? She wasn’t in the dream. Only Kikuoka. I told him to get down on his knees and beg for mercy. I laughed as I picked up an axe and cracked his—”
The story was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Yes?” called Hatsue automatically. Her husband was still lost in the pleasant memories of his dream. But when he pulled himself together and went to open the door, there stood the object of his tale, the man whose head he had cracked open with an axe just the previous night.
Michio Kanai was so thrown off balance that he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Hatsue came to the rescue by immediately adopting a very convincing meek demeanour.
“Oh, good evening, Mr Kikuoka, sir. Please come in. You’ll find that this room has quite a wonderful view.”
“Sounds like the two of you are having a very lively conversation,” said Kikuoka as he came in.
“Er… yes, well… the view from here is really splendid. And it is all thanks to you, sir. I feel incredibly lucky to have the chance to take this break in such a relaxing place. We both do.”
“Yes, yes. Well, there’s no outdoor view from my room—it’s a bit boring to tell the truth. No complaints about the decor though. Is it really coming down out there?”
“Yes, still the same, isn’t it, dear? A major snowstorm.”
“Yes, really. The same as ever. Still a blizzard out there, Mr Kikuoka.”
Kikuoka looked around the room.
“Wow, this is a deluxe room, isn’t it? Such a dramatic view! It’s a little dark now to be able to see it properly, but I imagine the view tomorrow morning’ll be amazing. Makes me wish I could change rooms with you.”
“Oh, would you like us to switch with you?”
“Eh? What? Oh, no, seems old Hamamoto personally chose that other room for me. Think I’ll just pop up here tomorrow morning and take a look.”
“Please do,” said Hatsue. “You’re welcome anytime. It’s kind of dull here with just the two of us. My husband really is the most unsociable type. Not a thing to say for himself.”
“Ho, ho! That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? Ha! But I suppose it’s true,” said Michio.
“Hang on! Is that drift ice? That white thing in the distance?”
“Where? Ah, yes, sir. You’re quite right. They say that on a fine day you can see as far as Sakhalin from here.”
“I’m just asking about drift ice.”
“Ah, yes, of course. Yes, it’s an ice floe.”
“There are ice floes visible out there. Ms Hamamoto was kind enough to tell us earlier,” added Hatsue.
“I see. Well, I think it’s about time I was getting to bed. It’s not good for the body to stay up late. If I end up with diabetes from partying into the night, then half the fun of life will be over.”
Kikuoka laughed.
“Diabetes?… Oh, you’re joking? Diabetes? But, sir, you’re so young…” Michio Kanai forced himself to laugh. “You think you might get diabetes! Oh, that’s a good one!”
“I’m not joking at all. You ought to be careful too. You get diabetes and you’ll never be able to satisfy your wife again.”
And with another roar of laughter, he punched Michio playfully in the shoulder a few times, and left the room. The executive husband and wife waited to hear his footsteps going down the stairs, and then exchanged a sour look. The reason was that just two weeks earlier sugar had been found in Michio Kanai’s urine. Since then he’d been using a special sweetener for diabetics which was an extremely unpleasant substitute for the real thing. Only someone who had been forced to try it could understand just how unpleasant it was.