After parting with Saki, I wandered around Arashiyama before returning to my grandma’s house. As I pushed open the heavy front door, a chime rang. “I’m home,” I murmured, knowing there would be no answer. Still, I entered the house.
If my mother found out I had come home at this hour, she would surely scold me. I was aware of that, but my steps felt unusually heavy.
“Welcome back,” a calm voice reached me from behind as I absentmindedly passed through the entrance hall and walked along the veranda leading to my room. I could see the figure of a person sitting on the veranda, partially hidden in the shadows.
I flicked on the nearby light switch, and the soft orange glow illuminated the person’s face: silver hair intermingled with white, eyes with wrinkles at the corners, and a gentle smile overflowing like spilled liquid. “I’m home, Grandma,” I said, recognizing that it was indeed her.
My grandma sat on the veranda like a figurine. I approached her and asked softly, “Are you waiting for me again today?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Today too?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
As my grandma looked up at the night sky, I couldn’t help but follow her gaze. It had become a habit of mine, but tonight, I didn’t feel like gazing at the night sky.
In fact, I had no intention of standing on the veranda. Today, my plan was to return to my room unnoticed by anyone and bury myself under the covers, forcing out the world. I didn’t want to think about anything. I wanted the day to end quickly. However, I couldn’t ignore that Grandma had been waiting for me until this late hour, so I sat beside her. There were no signs of anyone else being awake at this time.
“You were later than yesterday,” I heard Grandma’s whispering voice from a distance. “I was worried you might have gotten lost,” she added.
My mind was still lost in the forest.
“Keiichi?” She touched my shoulder, bringing me back to my senses.
When I looked at her, she murmured, as if peering into my eyes, “Did something happen? You look like you’re about to cry.”
“Do I look that way?”
“Yes. That’s how you appear, but is there something else?”
As she said that, her face seemed oddly lonely, and I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh. Grandma’s presence was always kind and serene, and I suddenly remembered.
“Thank you for today. Grandma, you taught me so much, and I had a wonderful time exploring the city of Kyoto.” I spoke to her with a bewildered expression.
“I taught you? Me?”
“Yes. Don’t you remember?”
“No… I’ll try to remember.”
As I expected, Grandma’s dementia seemed to have worsened at night, but she didn’t seem to mind, and asked, “Did you have fun?”
“I had a lot of fun.”
It had been our first and last outing together.
Saki and I had strolled the unfamiliar streets of Kyoto. We’d sipped coffee by the riverbank, explored various trinket shops, indulged in skewered cucumber pickles, bought beautiful books, and took purikura photos. Finally, we’d visited Suzumushi Temple.
Everything had been so enjoyable that just recalling it now made my heart quiver. Saki was adorable and precious no matter where we went. In that blue world that carried the scent of summer, I fell in love with her all over again. I realized my feelings for her exceeded what others had taught me. I genuinely wished for her happiness. I longed to witness a blossoming smile on her face. Her greatest joy would be when he came to pick her up. She had been yearning for him for six years.
As memories flooded my mind and thoughts spun in circles, a gentle hand touched my head. “Good child, good child…” In the soft, blue glow that absorbed the moonlight and emanated its own light, an elderly woman with kind eyes stroked my hair. Her movements, her voice, and the serene atmosphere all resembled Saki’s.
Despite the overwhelming yearning, I recalled the silhouette of Saki’s face I’d glimpsed in the forest and the words that slipped from her small mouth.
I wonder if she’s doing her best… I hope she’s not in trouble… Even if something happens, the Jizo statue will come and save her, right?
Perhaps she had lovingly caressed her younger siblings in this same manner. I wondered if she conveyed to them that they were the most precious beings in the world. I didn’t know the strength of their bond, but the words she uttered seemed so lonesome and sorrowful… I wanted to ask Grandma about it.
“Hey, Grandma?”
“Hmm?”
“What kind of place is Hinata Dorm?” I had to ask.