Hikaru’s field day arrived, with perfect autumn weather. The sun was shining gently, and a crisp breeze was blowing. Takiji, sporting a new tracksuit, headed to the boy’s elementary school together with Junko, her arms full of bento lunches for their picnic.
“Are you okay, dear? You didn’t sleep much last night, did you?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Ready, willing, and able!”
That morning he had risen early and gone for a run. His body felt exceptionally nimble, possibly because he had gone for a massage the previous day. He was in peak condition.
“I just wasn’t sure what to do. I hope it’s okay for us to go.”
The previous day, Hikaru’s father, Akihiro, had called to say that he had been able to get away from work for the event.
A little before that, Takiji was finally able to go and meet Akihiro properly, and they had talked in some detail about everything. As Takiji had imagined from Hikaru’s comments, Akihiro was serious and steady, and a kind father. Also as expected, he wasn’t aware of his son’s feelings regarding the field day. He had been dejected to hear about his son’s loneliness, but somehow, it seemed, he had managed to get the day off.
Takiji had told him at the time that if the two of them could participate, father and son together, nothing would be better than that. And that he hoped they would enjoy the field day. But as he was about to hang up the phone, Akihiro had urged him to come. His son was dead set on taking first place in the three-legged race with Mr. Ōtsuka, he said, and if he didn’t come, there would be trouble.
“Did you tell me his actual grandparents had passed away?” Junko asked. “If that’s the case, maybe he’ll let us stand in for them as a couple.” She was even more excited than Takiji about participating in something as far removed from their everyday lives as an elementary school field day. When Takiji had opened his eyes that morning, she was already up and bustling around the kitchen, happily cooking for the event. Then he recalled that she had always made exquisite bento lunches for Nanao, who had adored them as a schoolgirl.
When they arrived at the school gates, which were clogged with a chaotic mass of parents and guardians, Akihiro was waiting for them.
“Mr. Ōtsuka!” He ran up to Takiji and Junko, bowing his head and saying, “Thank you for what you have done.”
“No, no, it’s the other way around. We’re very grateful to you!”
“Grandpa! Grandma!”
At the sound of his voice, they looked and saw Hikaru running toward them. The sight of his ear-to-ear grin brought smiles to all of their faces.
“Listen, dear! Did you hear that? I’m Grandma!” Junko’s cheeks flushed as Takiji nodded.
“Hikaru, today you’re going to take first place with your grandfather!”
“We sure will! Let’s do it! Hooray!” Hikaru lifted a fist into the air, and Takiji joined him. Looking up at his raised hand, he saw the blue sky, with not a cloud in sight.
It was the beginning of his second life.