Saturday, 04/28/2001, 4:25 p.m.
The sky looked like a uniform gray mantle...
A faint smell of water and concrete lingered in the air...
The chirping of sparrows blended with the traffic noise and general bustle of Domino City...
In a house with a mailbox labeled Matsuyama, silence prevailed...
That silence was occasionally interrupted by the soft clack of wood against wood...
A garden of multicolored flowers, a couple of orange-laden trees, and a well-kept green lawn made up the view of the house's small yard, fenced with wire and a slightly withered old blackberry bush...
Shin and his grandfather sat on the wooden floor by the back entrance of the house, facing each other. Between them stood a white, low table with a light yellow 9x9 grid board resting on top. Several golden-brown pieces were arranged on the different squares...
Give or take a second, Shin moved a piece, its point aimed at his grandfather...
Shin's grandfather's right eye twitched slightly. His grandson smiled. A sigh escaped the old man's lips, his expression frustrated.
"Haaa..."
Then Shin spoke in a calm tone, his voice low and his face serene.
"Tsumi..."
At that moment, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. Both shifted their gaze toward the overcast sky...
The silence between grandfather and grandson lingered for a few seconds, their eyes lost in the yard...
The patter of rain on the roof, the croaking of frogs, and a deep scent of wet earth filled the air...
Give or take a second, Shin's grandfather asked while watching a group of sparrows bathing and playing in a puddle at the corner of the yard, his expression distracted.
"Hmm... At your age, a heart tends to be a bit more restless, kid... Isn't there some girl you like right now, huh?... Maybe that short-haired one you saved? What was her name again?... Mizu, Naru, maybe Emi, hmm...?"
Looking at his grandfather with a crooked half-smile and a slightly uncomfortable expression, Shin cut him off while rolling his eyes, his voice uneven.
"Her name's Anzu, Grandpa, and no, I don't think I'm the one she likes, you know? B-besides, I'm not looking for a relationship right now. I've got other goals in mind."
Turning away from the yard, the old man picked up a piece from the board and spoke while closing it in his fist, his expression thoughtful, his tone serious.
"You know, Shin? Life is a lot like shōgi. Sometimes you have to move the piece without knowing if it'll work... but not moving at all is worse. Then you've already failed. So what if she doesn't like you? So what if she rejects you a couple of times? That's no reason to stop trying... That girl... Anzu... seemed like a good one. Her family too. Don't throw away a chance because of fear or self-doubt. In the end, you can't go back in time. You're at a stage in life where you can afford to fail—but never for not trying. And as for goals... isn't finding love the most important one of all?"
Shin remained silent, his head lowered in reflection, his expression strained. His grandfather kept watching the falling rain, a smile playing on his lips...
A couple of hours passed...
The rain still fell outside...
The sky had turned black, and the sounds of the night alternated between frogs, traffic, and insects...
A green gecko climbed the wall near a clock inside the living room. The clock read '7:17 p.m.'
Shin and his two grandparents sat silently on the couch. The TV was on in front of them...
The screen showed a studio in shades of blue and white. In the background, a map of Japan appeared overlaid on a gray backdrop. The letters NHKニュース7 appeared in white in the lower right corner.
The anchor, with a thin face, short hair, and rectangular glasses, wore a light gray suit and spoke in a deep but calm voice. Beside him, a woman with short hair, an ivory-colored jacket, and a calm expression nodded while holding a few sheets of paper. Meanwhile, she spoke in a neutral tone.
{"... Prime Minister Koizumi reaffirmed his stance on economic recovery today, ahead of his first official visit to the United States..."}
In a box to the right of the woman, archival footage showed a middle-aged man, slim, of average height, with medium-length, slightly graying black hair, wearing a dark gray suit and red tie. He greeted several journalists with a firm gesture.
At that moment, the other anchor took over, his expression serious.
{"... At a press conference, he emphasized the need for structural reforms, stating that 'without reform, there is no economic recovery.' The statement drew mixed reactions from business leaders and opposition lawmakers..."}
As both spoke, subtitles appeared in white characters over a translucent gray background. The TV volume was moderate, filling the room with a steady cadence.
A faint scent of green tea hung in the air.
Shin kept his eyes on the screen, elbows on his knees, hands clasped. To his right, his grandmother held a tea cup, sipping occasionally. Beside her, the grandfather dozed on and off, his head tilted toward his shoulder...
Give or take a second, the front door opened with a click.
The three turned their attention toward the sound.
At the same time, the grandfather blinked hard, Shin narrowed his eyes, and the grandmother stood up, cup in hand.
The sight of the figure visibly relaxed all three.
It was Yumiko, dressed in a suit—her blue suit soaked through. Her face looked tired, and a faint smile touched her lips. Her hair was a mess, and her dark brown leather briefcase gave off a musty smell. In a weak voice, she spoke.
"Good evening."
Looking at her daughter, the grandmother's face wrinkled. She set her cup on the table and spoke in a worried tone as she turned toward the hallway.
"I'll get the bath ready, dear... Shin, sweetheart, go grab a towel for your mother, would you? Haaa... I don't know how many times I've told this girl to take her umbrella..."
Nodding slightly, Shin followed his grandmother down the hallway. A faint crooked smile spread across Yumiko's lips.
Only a shivering Yumiko, still by the door, and her father remained in the living room. Their eyes met briefly—Yumiko lowered her head and let go of her briefcase, her expression clouded. The old man sighed, turning his gaze to the TV, then asked in a dry tone, his expression serious.
"Everything all right, Yumi?"
Yumiko nodded without lifting her head, then said while looking at the floor, her voice heavy. Slowly, she took off her black heels.
"Yes, everything's fine, Dad. How was your day here?"
The grandfather's face twisted briefly, his mouth opened for a moment, but no words came out. Yumiko bit her lower lip, her eyes turning red. Silence fell over the room for a few seconds...
Then Shin came back from the hallway with a large white towel over his shoulder. He walked over to Yumiko and wrapped it around her. She smiled and then said as she dried her hair, her tone cheerful.
"Thanks, sweetheart... So, Shin, honey, what did you do today? Your grandfather won't tell me anything."
Smiling faintly, Shin glanced at his grandfather and replied in a casual tone.
"Nothing too exciting. I went for a walk in the morning, then spent the afternoon playing shōgi in the yard with Grandpa... And you? How was it? Tough case?"
Frowning, Yumiko nodded as she dried her face, her expression distant. Her words came out in a whisper.
"Not tough, but... very strange—..."
Then came the distant voice of the grandmother from somewhere else in the house.
"Yumi, it's ready! Come on!"