Washu noticed that the door to the observatory was open and realized that was the old woman’s home. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that anyone lived here.”
Relieved at Washu’s courteous demeanor, the woman’s expression softened slightly. “It’s all right. It’s natural not to realize when it’s in such disrepair.”
Washu felt that something was amiss, though she could not pinpoint it.
“But I don’t get many visitors. Are you interested in old things?”
“Yes… Does this observatory belong to you?”
“It belonged to my late husband. He liked everything old, especially this observatory. I don’t really know the details, but he found it on a planet somewhere and had it relocated.”
“Um, my name is Hakubi Washu. I hope you don’t mind my request, but could I please use this observatory?”
“Hakubi Washu-san… Aren’t you the youngest student ever admitted into the Department of Philosophy?”
“Yes…” Washu, blushing from embarrassment, nodded. It seemed she was famous even out here. “I don’t have the money right now, but could I possibly trade you my house for it?” Washu had received patent fees from Ikuma, but she had spent them almost completely on equipment and material costs. The next bank transfer was in three months. That was why she offered an exchange instead.
“But your house is… Well, come this way.” Beckoning to Washu, the woman started walking through the wicket and down the hedged path.
“Wow!!” Washu inadvertently raised her voice. Beyond the wicket was a vantage point with a full view of the residential area where she lived and the Department of Philosophy campus.
“The largest house over there is yours, isn’t it?” The old woman pointed at the residence. Looking down upon it, Washu realized for the first time that it was more unlike the surrounding houses than the street-level view had led her to believe. The old woman chuckled. “Your house would be worth more, even if you traded it for the whole farm.”
“Well, I’m the one who wants the trade…”
“Why are you so interested in this observatory…?”
Washu gazed fondly up at the observatory and touched its wall. “It’s very similar to what I had back home. That’s where I used to live.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
“Heh, our new philosopher has strange interests.”
“I thought I was normal… Is it strange…?”
“You have a wide breadth of interests. Heh heh…” The woman laughed when she saw Washu pout with discontent. For a moment, her kind laughter reminded Washu of her mother back home. “But I’m sorry…”
“It’s all right,” said Washu. “Is it very important to you?”
“That’s not what I…” the old woman hesitated. “No, I suppose it isn’t.”
“At any rate, the mechanical parts are quite rusted.” Washu commented, judging by the machinery she could see from the window.
“Since my husband passed away, there haven’t been any technicians who could handle its maintenance.”
“Will you allow me to do it?”
“But…”
“It’ll double as part of my studies.”
The old woman held back at first, but gave in to Washu’s insistence, and entrusted the observatory to her care.
From that day onward, Washu visited every day for interior maintenance. As the one-month mark approached…
“Are you really going to give me this farm, Nana?!”
“Yes.”
“Thank you so much!” Washu was ecstatic.
“Hold on… There’s something I want you to know.” The old woman looked confused. “I didn’t really want to say this…”
She proceeded to relate that a part of the land was mortgaged for a debt, and if she could not pay by the due date, the land would be taken as collateral. The real estate broker knew that she was unable to pay and had extended the date on purpose to mortgage the rest of the land as interest, trying to take it all. To the woman, this was not just her home but also a precious place containing all her memories of her late husband. She did not want to sell to anyone, but it pained her to let the land go to waste. She had asked a different local real estate agent to look for a good buyer, but there hadn’t been any market demand.
“I wish you had told me sooner…”
“I’m very happy with your offer. I’ve been turning you down because I didn’t want to get you involved in this mess. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t give up, Nana. It’ll be fine! I’ll protect this land.”
“Washu-san…”
“Don’t worry.” There was still time before the due date. Washu considered selling her own property to use the money to pay back the loan. But nobody came to buy her house.
“Washu-sama’s property is first-rate, even around here, and given the house’s high quality…not everybody could afford it.” The man who answered her inquiries when she went to investigate was rather blunt.
“Then we could lower the price…”
“N-no!” He raised his voice, almost upset.
“Why not? If I, as owner…”
“Well…there might be a buyer at a lower price point. But…this is awkward to say…it would prompt a drop in real estate prices. It would decrease the value of other properties… I assure you, we’re taking the appropriate steps, and we’re making calls to a variety of people. Please be patient.”
Washu left the office with some doubts, and soon, the due date was a few days away. Growing tired of waiting, Washu was about to march back over to the office when Naja appeared, tears streaming down her face. Without any preamble, she abruptly stormed in, knocking down the butler. “Wasn’t I your friend, Washu-chan?!”
Washu was so flabbergasted that she inadvertently said, “No.”
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Naja froze as if time had stopped.
After a moment of silence, Washu finally opened her mouth to say, “I’m joking, Naja-san.”
“Washu-chan, you’re so mean…” Naja said faintly, squatting and tracing curlicues on the floor with her finger.
“Well, when you burst in here like that, anyone would’ve been taken aback. It was a reflex…”
“Was I that fierce…?”
“Yes.” Washu showed Naja the footage from the security camera.