At a corner of a residential area. It was not a church. It was a small building that looked like a simple assembly hall. I was waiting in the car. Although it was already in the dead of night, lots of automobiles were lined up in the parking lot and a few vehicles occasionally went in and out. Many of those getting out of the cars were elderly. They were not solitary. They were old couples, or elderly ones being supported by slightly younger companions.
About one hour had passed since Kusanagi got out of the car. Since I stopped the engine, it became quite cold inside the vehicle. Still, it would be better because there is no wind here.
I was thinking if I should check her situation. After all, I came to the place all the way as her bodyguard. On the other hand, she ordered me to wait in this car.
I sat in the seat deep and thrust both hands into the pockets of the jacket. Through the window, I saw the light over the hedges of the parking lot. It seemed that people were gathering toward the direction. Kusanagi told me that the official funeral service itself would be held tomorrow. So, what is she doing now? I had no idea. Also, I did not know the range of the type of people who were getting together.
I heard a small sound. It was as if someone touched the body of the car. I sat up in the seat, and looked backward. No sign of a person. I suspected that an object that was blown by the wind hit the car.
But, I was startled when I looked at the window beside me.
Only half of a small human face was there.
A child.
A short child was standing outside the door beside me. The kid was trying to peep into the car. I guessed that the child was there to attend the funeral. I had decided to ignore it.
The child was saying something in a high-pitched voice. I could do nothing but open the window downward.
“You must be Mr. Kurita, correct?” The child said.
“Yeah.” I answered. “Who? You are ...?”
“May I get in?”
“In what?”
“The car, obviously.” In spite of the young age, the child spoke in a steady and secure tone. “I will take the driver’s seat, okay?”
“Yeah.”
“So, hold this.” The child raised both arms and extended them into the car.
They were paper cups. I took two cups. I did not know what they were, but I could tell that they were hot drinks.
The child went around the front part of the car, and reached the opposite side.
The kid opened the door, and got inside head-first. Then, the one sat in the driver’s seat, grabbed the steering wheel, reached out the hand, and closed the door. After all the movements were finished, the child sat straight and looked toward the front in the posture for driving. Then, the kid turned the head sideways, looked at my face, and smiled happily.
“You need not worry. I won’t drive.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “That’s nice.”
“You may drink it. After all, I have brought it here for you.”
“Which one?” I asked, while slightly raising the cups in my hands.
“Whichever you like.” The kid answered. “I think one is coffee and the other is cocoa. Choose the one you like. I will take the other.”
“You prefer cocoa, don’t you?”
“Not really.”
“So, do you prefer coffee?”
“No. I don’t really like anything bitter.”
I checked the aroma of one of the cups. Since it was coffee, I held out the other cup toward the kid.
“Thank you. You are kind, Mr. Kurita.”
“By the way, who are you?”
“I am Mizuki Kusanagi.”
“Kusanagi?”
“Yeah. My elder sister asked me to bring hot drinks to you. That place is boring, and I prefer this place. So, let’s talk for a while.”
“Ms. Kusanagi’s ... younger sister?”
“Yes.”
“Wow ... I didn’t know that.”
“That’s obvious. We have just met for the first time.”
“I mean, I did not know that Captain Kusanagi had a younger sister.”
“Oh, really?” She turned her startled stare toward me, and sipped the cocoa. “Mr. Kurita, do you have siblings?”
“No, I’m an only child.”
“Really.” She sipped the cocoa again. Her eyes blinked like those of a doll.
“I am sorry that you lost your mother.” I chose the proper words to speak. I thought I had to say so as a courtesy to her.
“Actually, it has nothing to do with me. You know, she is not my mother.”
“Oh, she is not.” While responding so, I was thinking about what she meant. “Umm, but, you are a younger sister of Ms. Suito Kusanagi’s, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I have the same father as my elder sister does.”
“Oh, I see.” I did not understand exactly what she meant. It was not the information I wanted to know, so I decided to block it.
“Mr. Kurita, are you the boyfriend of my elder sister?”
“No. I am, umm, her bodyguard.”
“What is a bodyguard?”
“Err, he is the one on a mission to provide the protection from danger.”
“Really ... But you don’t look so strong.”
“Well, I’m not strong.”
“My sister looks stronger.”
“Probably, she is.”
“You told a lie to me, didn’t you?”
“No, that’s not a lie. By the way, should you not return there? They might be worrying about you. Err, are you visiting this place with your mother ... or your father?”
“Neither. My mother and my father are no longer with me.”
“What? How come?”
“How come? Because they died.” She said, and sipped the cocoa. This time, her eyes were closed.
I doubted for a moment if she was telling the truth. But I did not have the courage to say, “You must be telling a lie.”
“Really. Umm, sorry about asking you an unpleasant question.”
“No, I do not feel that it is unpleasant.” She raised her eyes. “Because it is reality.”
“Reality. Ah, of course.” I managed to suppress the laughter that I came close to bursting into, because her way of making the statement was a bit funny.
“I am in school. The school is my home.”
“You have many friends, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like your elder sister?”
“Umm, it’s a difficult question. If she likes me, then I think I can like her, too.”
“Probably, she likes you, I think.”
“How can you understand such a thing?”
“I just can. I have known Ms. Kusanagi for a long time.”
“Really? Even if I do not understand?”
“You would gradually understand that. Someday in the future.”
“Do you think even a child can understand that?”
“I think you can.”
“Can I stay here a little more?”
“Sure.”
She sipped the cocoa. I also drank the coffee.
A shadowy figure of a person passed by in front of the car. Because of the hood the one was wearing, I could not see the face. It was a woman. When she walked away a bit, I could see her boots. They were those I had seen before.
“Sorry. Just wait here.” I opened the door. I handed my cup to her.
“What’s going on?”
“My job.”
“Bodyguard?”
Without answering it, I closed the door and started running.
-5-