Beside him, Yukawa was chatting away to Natsumi about the Kikuno parade. She reminded him that he would need to arrive at least an hour before it started to secure a good place.
Tomoya left the restaurant a little after seven. His emotions in turmoil, he dragged his feet as he walked.
He had barely taken more than a few steps, when someone hissed his name, “Takagaki.” He stopped and looked around.
“Over here,” came the voice for a second time.
It was coming from a sedan parked on the far side of the road. The person in the driver’s seat was Tojima, one of the regulars at Namiki-ya.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Got a moment? I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“What do you think?” Tojima moistened his lips, shot a nervous glance back at Namiki-ya, then looked up at Tomoya. “It’s about Hasunuma. But only if you still feel something for Saori.”
Tomoya inhaled deeply. “I’m all ears.”
“Okay, slide in on the other side.”
Tomoya’s heart was pounding as he went around to the other side of the car.
It was nearly eleven o’clock by the time he got home. Rie, his mother, was sitting on the living room sofa watching television. The instant Tomoya appeared, she reached for the remote and switched it off. “You’re very late.”
“Yeah. Well, we had a lot to talk about.”
“What kind of thing?”
“You know, thing things. Lots of the regulars were there.”
“What’s going to happen with the guy who did it? What’s he doing here in Kikuno anyway?”
“I don’t know. But everyone’s furious about it.”
His mother shouted after him as he got up to go to his room.
“Remember, Saori’s not coming back.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Have you thought about not going to Namiki-ya anymore? You’re only bringing back painful memories.”
Tomoya left the living room without a word. Once in his own room, he tore off his suit and tie and lay down on his bed. He pondered his conversation with Tojima. What Tojima was proposing was nothing if not surprising. His mother would be violently opposed, if she ever heard about it. She’d beg him to stay well away.
Now he understood why Yutaro Namiki had spoken to him as he did. Namiki knew that Tojima was going to ask him for his help, and he was signaling to Tomoya that he was free to turn down the request, that he — Namiki — wouldn’t think any the less of him if he did so.
Tomoya, however, had given his answer to Tojima right then and there. He would love to be part of it.
He knew that if he missed this chance, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Part Two
It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
14
That Sunday was a special day for the Kikuno shopping district. When Natsumi looked out, the street was heaving with people walking in every direction. It was early — only just after eleven — and there was still an hour until the parade got underway. They must all be hunting for the best place to watch it from.
“Thank goodness the weather’s nice,” came Machiko’s voice from behind her.
“Quite.” Natsumi turned and nodded. “It’s awful when it rains after everybody’s put in all that hard work.”
“Isn’t it?” said Machiko, before heading into the kitchen to help Yutaro, who was already busy cooking. While they were only open in the evenings during the week, on weekends they opened for lunch as well.
Natsumi saw a shadow on the sliding door. The door slid open noisily, revealing the person she’d been expecting.
“The rail company is just too stupid,” said Professor Yukawa with irritation. “They should run more trains on a big day like today.”
“Was the train very crowded?”
Yukawa pulled his chin into his neck and looked thoroughly fed up.
“Like sardines. It wasn’t so much that you couldn’t get a seat, you couldn’t even stand without getting bent out of shape.”
Natsumi laughed. “Sounds awful.”
“The parade route is busier than I was expecting. Everyone’s trying to claim the best spots along the route.”
“You’re probably right. We should get going, Professor.” Getting to her feet, Natsumi pulled on a parka, which was hanging over the back of a nearby chair. “Mom, we’re leaving.”
Machiko’s face appeared above the kitchen counter. “See you later, then. Have fun, Professor Yukawa.”
“Thanks very much. I’ll be back this evening,” said Yukawa, turning toward the kitchen with a big grin.
A couple of folding wooden stools were leaning against the wall. Natsumi held one out to Yukawa. “Here, take this.”
Taking the stool, Yukawa nodded sagely. “What a good idea. It’ll be great to sit down and watch the show.”
“Sadly, life isn’t quite that easy.”
Yukawa frowned inquiringly. “Meaning?”
“You’ll see soon enough. Come along, let’s go.” Natsumi picked up the second stool.
As they emerged from the restaurant, they almost collided with a man holding a camera. A crowd was forming at the edge of the road, so there was very little room on the already narrow sidewalk.
“It really is carnival time here,” grumbled Yukawa, as they walked along the street. “If everywhere’s as crowded as it is here, all the good places will be gone already.”
“This parade gets more and more popular every year. People post tons of pictures on social media and they do it in real time, while the parade’s going on. Some people probably camped out all night to get the best spot for taking pictures.”
“Seriously? Takes all sorts to make a world.”
“The pictures are well worth it. You’ll understand when you see the parade, Professor.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to it.”
They kept moving, pushing their way through the crowd until they reached a large intersection. The road perpendicular to the one they were on was also closed to traffic for the day.
Walking right up to the exterior wall of the building on the street corner, Natsumi unfolded her stool.
“Professor, put your stool here, next to mine.”
“Is here okay?”
Natsumi watched as Yukawa opened out his stool. “Good,” she said and sat down on hers.
“Will we be able to see anything from here?” Yukawa asked doubtfully, as he settled himself on his stool. “I mean, just look at all the number of people walking here in front of us. There’ll only be more of them once the parade gets going. We won’t see a thing unless they squat down.”
“The people in the front might crouch, if you asked them, but the ones at the back definitely won’t. If anything, they’ll all be standing on tiptoe.”
“That’s bad news for us.”
“Don’t worry about it. Trust me.”
As time went by, the crowd continued to grow. Plenty of them were dressed in costumes themselves. The parade’s official home page said that cosplayers were welcome, and the ones in more elaborate costumes were holding impromptu photo shoots.
“I know this isn’t the best time, but did that man ever come back again?” Yukawa asked Natsumi.
“That man?”
“The one who barged into Namiki-ya — I’m not quite sure when it was. The man suspected of murdering your sister.”
“Ah...”
“Your father threw him out, but he threatened to come back. Did he?”