A Man by Keiichiro Hirano

Author:Keiichiro Hirano [Hirano, Keiichiro]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2020-06-01T05:00:00+00:00

Rié received word from Kido that, although he still hadn’t figured out X’s identity, he had made some progress with the case. As apprehensive as she was to learn the truth, worried it would be an unsettling tale, she still wanted desperately to know who her husband had been. For upon this knowledge hinged not only the possibility of clearing the haze around his existence but around her own past as well. And unable to rush Kido, especially considering the modest sum for which he was investigating, she had no choice but to be patient.

Yuto continued to keep his back turned toward her, and Rié could tell that this was his way of criticizing her for not explaining why she had neglected to deal with the death of his second dad. Afraid she might hurt his feelings further, she had been unable to broach the topic openly since that time in his bedroom.

“Yuto, what book were you reading before we left?” Rié asked. They had just reached the rows of cherry trees, already bare of their leaves.

“. . . Nothing really,” he replied.

“I’ve never heard of a book called ‘nothing really,’” said Rié, poking him lightly in the shoulder with a smile.

“It was one of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s,” said Yuto.

“You really like him, eh, Yuto? I read some of his short stories years ago. Like ‘Yam Gruel’ and ‘Flatcar.’”

Yuto let that pass without comment, his face downcast, wearing a look of indifference.

“What’s the story about?” asked Rié.

“It’s not a story. It’s kind of a poem.” Yuto told her the title, but Rié couldn’t catch it.

“Sorry, what’s that?”

“‘Asakusa Park.’”

“I’ve never heard of it . . . That’s by Akutagawa?”

“Yes.”

“What’s it about?”

Yuto shrugged.

“Don’t be like that to your mother. Tell me.”

“. . . When the main character passes in front of an artificial flower shop, a tiger lily goes, ‘Look how beautiful I am,’ and he replies, ‘But aren’t you an artificial flower?’”

“I don’t get it. That’s weird.” Rié gave a wry smile. “You find that interesting, Yuto?”

“. . . Yeah. But it’s difficult.”

“You’re learning how to think thoughts that are beyond even your mother. When you’re done, let me read it.”

“Not happening.”

“Why?”

“For one thing, I underlined parts of it.”

Rié studied her son’s profile with tender concern, smiling. “I see,” she said. “Then I guess I’ll just have to go buy a copy.”

“I doubt you’d . . . find it interesting.”

“Hey! What are you trying to imply?”

At last a hint of a smile crept onto Yuto’s face.

“Even if it’s not interesting for me, I want to know what sort of things you’re into.”

“Don’t worry about it, Mom. It’s got nothing to do with you.”

“Nope. I’m just going to have to read it myself, whether you like it or not.”

“Quit it about my books already.”

Scratching his head, Yuto waved his other hand as if to shake off his mother’s nosiness. He then glanced back to check on Hana and Grandma and, finding them looking at something along the edge of the path, turned to face Rié again.

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