Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Author:Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Macmillan

‘How did it go?’ Kazu Tokita asked Yoko, who had just returned from her trip to the past.

Instead of immediately responding to Kazu’s question, Yoko looked around the cafe. As an underground establishment, it had no windows. Isolated from the sun’s light, one must rely on clocks to tell the time. However, the three pendulum wall clocks in the cafe showed three different times. That made it entirely unclear to Yoko, who was visiting this cafe for the first time, which clock was showing the right time.

‘I guess I’ve come back from the past, right?’

‘Yes,’ Kazu replied succinctly.

Oh, OK then . . .

Yoko had truly managed to journey back to the day her dad, Mochizuki, visited the cafe. Yet their paths had not crossed. According to Nagare Tokita, clad in his cook’s uniform, it was Yoko’s deep-rooted reluctance that kept them apart. On reflection, she felt there was some truth to it.

Though I say I want to meet him, deep down, I was petrified.

She wondered how it would have gone if they had met.

‘There, what did I say? You went and married that man, and you became unhappy. You made a mistake. All because you didn’t listen to me.’

She was quite sure that was how it would have gone.

After Yoko eloped with Tetsuya Kawashima, they left Tokyo and rented an apartment in the city of Shizuoka, a couple of hours away. They vowed to live on their own without relying on anyone else.

At first, things went well. Tetsuya found a new job, and Yoko began part-time work at a convenience store. After a short while, she realized she was pregnant. She was overjoyed, but Tetsuya was not. He was not fond of children.

Almost overnight, his demeanour turned cold. His words grew harsh, and he started to show a violent side.

There were times when he went as far as to kick her stomach, which frightened Yoko terribly. She often considered consulting her mother about the situation but in the end she endured silently, not wanting to worry her.

My mother has been my rock, always standing by my side. I don’t want to make her sad. The choice to run away with him was mine, so it’s up to me to see it through.

Yoko resolved to leave Tetsuya and raise their unborn child on her own. The moment she broached the subject of their split, Tetsuya signed the divorce papers, as if he had been expecting this all along.

In no time, Tetsuya’s new girlfriend showed up at their apartment. Having an affair while his wife was pregnant, Tetsuya turned out to be the worst kind of man. It was then that Yoko understood; her father had seen Tetsuya for the dirtbag he truly was.

I was so blind to it all. I can just imagine how Dad would shake his head at me. And if Mum ever found out about this, it would break her heart.

While she was pregnant, Yoko was fortunate to find a job that offered her room and board, preparing meals for the employees of a newspaper home delivery sales office run by an elderly couple.

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