Vol 4 Epilogue (1/2)
Epilogue
“There’s still some time before the train leaves,” Naoe said as he handed Takaya his ticket at the bullet train ticket gate at Sendai Station
Takaya and Naoe were finally departing from Sendai
Yuzuru and Chiaki had already left by car froone with Takaya and Naoe to say goodbye to Kokuryou, then left theht an older railway to Akita She would keep an eye on Satake from there
“Shall we go in, Takaya-san?”
“Eh Yeah”
“What is the matter?”
Takaya absentuesswella lot of things happened”
“Is it difficult to part from this place?” Naoe’s eyes dipped quietly “I asked to be contacted when the date for the funeral of Kokuryou-san’s wife is deterood if we had more time for leisure, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah—but” Takaya said, and turned to look behind hiain He’d done it countless times since they’d arrived at the station
Naoe asked quietly, “Did you forget so?”
“—”
Takaya looked down
Then he turned back to the gate
“ No, it’s nothing”
And he inserted the ticket
He could coain Whenever he wanted Yes So it was fine Next time he would be able to face her with ize to her He wanted to tell her how he truly felt He would surely be able s in his heart
I never hated you
And until then
He climbed the stairs up to the platfor on Track 14 Its doors were closed—perhaps its interior was still being cleaned
He began to walk along the platform to check the train’s number Then—
“”
His feet stopped
A tiny woman stood by herself in front of their compartment door
She didn’t seeer She was dressed in everyday clothes and had the look of a housewife On the platfor a paper bag in her hand, perhaps as a souvenir gift to someone
She noticed him
Takaya stopped breathing
A gentle smile spread across her face
And then she called to him in a tender voice, “Takaya”
“—”
Naoe prevented hi back Takaya stared at Sawako, his eyes wide
(Mom)
Saalked up to Takaya and bowed politely to Naoe Then she said gently, “Are you going home already?”
“”
“There were things I wanted to speak to you about, but”
Sawako sighed slightly and shook her head in resignation
Then she gave him a smile small
“Coain anytiht?”
“”
Takaya, his eyes wide as he stood frozen in place, made no reply
Sawako looked directly up at Takaya
“There are so s I want to ask about you, about Miya But surely”
“—”
Train information announcements echoed around the station The 116 Tokyo Express on Track 14 opened its doors
“You’ll coain, won’t you?”
Takaya looked down at the ground, his lips pressed tight
Sawako held the paper bag in her hand towards Takaya
“Here I didn’t have ht you some snacks Eat them with Miya, okay?”
“”
Naoe could see Takaya’s fists tre out the paper bag
She said, her heart in her words, “Be well, Takaya”
“”
Takaya said nothing Heto escape His shoulder struck Sawako’s glancingly, and she staggered Naoe called to him, “Takaya-san”
Takaya didn’t turn He stepped onto the train, back toward her as if in rejection
Sawako stared after her son in a stunned daze
Naoe spoke to her, and they appeared to exchange a feords, but
The departure time quickly approached
Naoe climbed on board and went to Takaya In his hand was the paper bag given him by Sawako
Saas still standing on the platform
Takaya glared at the opposite wall
“Takaya-san,” Naoe said to hi you wanted to tell your mother?”
“”
“There is still ti”
Takaya didn’t turn He asked in a low voice, not looking at him, “ Did you tell her?”
Naoe had probably given her their train infor the question, Naoe said cal else, do you?”
“”
“You want to forgive your mother, don’t you? You’ve alanted to be kind to her, haven’t you?”
Takaya glared fixedly out the
Naoe looked at hientleness in his eyes
“You should stop lying to yourself”
“”
Sawako, still standing on the platforh theat Takaya
She had the sao in the
A plea for forgiveness, a mother’s
The one-ers hurried onboard Station employees rushed back and forth on the platform
Sawako looked fixedly at Takaya
Naoe said urgently, “Takaya-san”
Takaya didn’t move
The departure bell chimed
A long, long chime
Sawako stood stock-still on the platform
“”