CH 54

The hospital my father is in is located a little distance away from Hanaoka Town. It takes about 30 minutes to get there from where I am.

On the other hand, Ichijou General Hospital which I am staying at is located inside the city. They brought me here in a helicopter operated by Comrade Yoshio. Hongou Takeru-sama had insisted on my being admitted to Ichijou General Hospital. I have been receiving special treatment on account of the debt both Hongou Takeru-sama and Ichijou-sensei’s father have to the Kujouin household. I am always being saved by the grandfather I have never met. Though his son, my father, is absolute trash.

My father and the landlady were both transported by ambulance. I have been informed of what took place after by Lawyer Tamaru.

My father suffers external injuries, including cerebral contusion, while the landlady had to have her right leg amputated from the knee down. The two of them both sustained injuries worse than mine. They had probably attempted to escape in an unfavorable direction. Furthermore, I had the extremely good luck of having been sheltered by the piano. Had I not been hindered by my father and been able to escape the house, I might perhaps be dead now.

Left as he is, my father might go into vegetative state. So he is going to die without ever regaining consciousness. He’s going to die without hearing all the names I would like to call him! Without realizing it, I voice this out.

“As if I will let him die just like that!”

“Reiko, calm down. Ruriko was always calm under all circumstances. She often sang.”

Saying this, Comrade Yoshio begins singing. It is a song I have never heard, one with beautiful lyrics. He tells me that it is a song called “Hei no Ue de” by a group called Hachimitsu Pai (TN: meaning honey pie).

When I tell him that I have taken a liking to the song, he blasts it on the car speaker. It produces such a nice sound. The sound of Hachimitsu Pai singing “Hei no Ue de” coming from the speaker is much more pleasant than Comrade Yoshio’s. It is a somewhat sad song my mother liked.

We listen to other songs my mother had favored: Simon & Garfunkel, PPM, Happy End. My mother liked folk songs.

To finish it off, we listen to Joan Baez’s “We Shall Overcome”. I, too, recognize this song, for Mossad Tanaka-san used to sing it. When I was a child, I even sang along. For some reason, whenever we sing while heading towards the setting sun, Mossad Tanaka-san would seem filled with tears.

Right around when Joan Baez’s song is over, we arrive at the hospital. With Comrade Yoshio’s help, I get seated on the wheelchair. We proceed on to the reception desk at the first floor and complete the required procedures. In it, there’s a blank where you have to fill out what your relations with the patient are. With much effort, I fill it in with the word child. Why am I that person’s child? While pointless, I cannot help but wonder.

We head to the room my father is in. Comrade Yoshio places a knock on the door.

“This is Kujouin Reiko.”

A reply to come in can be heard from within, in a woman’s voice. The two of us enter the room.

Inside, there stands a lady who must have been the one to have told us to enter earlier, Lawyer Tamaru, Mossad Tanaka-san, and two middle aged men I have never seen before.

This room is even larger than the VIP room I am staying in. There are two rooms and my father is in the one farther back.

Lawyer Tamaru gives Comrade Yoshio and I a nod.

“The doctor is inside right now. They will be done soon so please wait for a while.”

“Yes. I see that not only Tamaru-sensei, but Tanaka-san is also here. Still, what happened to your look?”

Lawyer Tamaru is wearing a suit and his hair is dyed black and cropped short. He also has glasses on.

“It is just as you said, I have realized that the soul is what is important in rock. The suit is also more comfortable to wear. And it is also easier for me to wash my hair now.”

“There is nothing more I can ask for if you are able to be more comfortable now.”

For him to say that a suit is more comfortable. Just before, Takaoka-sama had said that a suit is stiff and hot to be in. I cannot imagine just how much sacrifices the heavy metal look required.

“Reiko-kun, I want you to know that I am on your side. No matter what happens, I am your ally.”

“Um, Tanaka-san… What kind of relations do these people have with my father?”

That’s right, present here are a middle aged woman and two middle aged men I do not know.

“Ah. Let’s introduce you. You, this here is Reiko-kun, Kujouin-san’s only daughter. And Reiko-kun’s acquaintance Michael Yoshida-shi.”

We each give a slight nod.

“This one here is Akaki Tae. As a student, she was a radical and was saved by Kujouin-san when she was on the verge of dying from the internal strife going on back then.”

“Good afternoon. I’m Akaki Tae. Unlike Tanaka-sans, I no longer hold such views so do rest assured.”

Akaki-san, with her very short hair that’s slightly different from the cecil cut, says this while giving me a wink and hands me a business card. Written there is the title ”NPO, Committee to Protect Women’s Rights, Committee Head”. I see she is involved in the feminism movement. The other two present here seems to also be those who have received help from my father while involved in student activism. Lawyer Tamaru was the one who had called them here, stating that my father’s life is in danger.

As I expected, my father had more pawns than Mossad Tanaka-san and Lawyer Tamaru.

While we were exchanging greetings, the door opened and a nurse came out, telling us that they were done. Hearing this, we went inside the inner room my father is in. There, I can see my father joking around with the doctor.

“… So you have deceived me, Tamaru-sensei.”

Not only is he not on the verge of death, but he is even conscious. Though he is injured just as I am, he seems to have all his senses intact. Guiltily, Lawyer Tamaru casts his eyes down. The doctor takes notice of our presence and greets us. Though he may be trash, he is still my father.

“My father has been in your care. I am his daughter, Kujouin Reiko.”

“Hahaha. I was also in Tooru-san’s care. I didn’t know he had such a beauty of a daughter! You must have been injured during the landslide too. It must have been tough. Tooru-san too, has only recently finally been able to sit up. Ah, how insensitive of me to be disturbing your father daughter time. Tamaru, make sure Tooru-san gets his rest.”

“I know, Suzuki. Just go already. Ah, Reiko-san, this guy here is someone from our university days. Tooru-san helped him when he was in debt during his medical school years.”

Even this doctor is a pawn of my father! I see now that this place is enemy ground. Everyone here is my father’s subordinate. Even if I were to be murdered here, they will coordinate their stories and bury me without anyone else knowing. I’m so glad Comrade Yoshio is here with me. Thank you, Comrade Yoshio!

After making sure that Dr. Suzuki and the nurse have gone out, I address my father.

“I came because I heard that you were dying. I see that you’re alive.”

To this, my father puts on a confused face, looking as if he did not understand my words.

“Why is Mother here? What happened to the piano?”

I feel chills running through my whole body.

In front of me is a 76 year old senior. And I am being called Mother by that old man!

“Are you hurt too? Ah, that must be why you are here to see me. With that arm, you cannot play the piano more precious than anything else in the world to you.”

He said this with irony in his voice.

Revolted, I start to feel nauseous.

“So, do you have anything you might need me for? There is no need for you to worry, since my friends have been taking care of me while I’m hospitalized. Heh, it is just as they say: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. Hahaha. Though there is no way you would ever care for me, regardless of your physical distance.”

Is this all an act? Or could he, just like Mari-sama, be suffering from dementia?

Seeing this, Lawyer Tamaru calls for the doctor earlier. The doctor then comes in a hurry.

“Just earlier his mind was clear. What happened here?”

Dr. Suzuki stands before my father.

“Oh, Suzuki-kun. No, I’m supposed to call you Dr. Suzuki while here, huh.”

My father speaks as usual, as if nothing is wrong, to Dr. Suzuki.

“Ah, that’s right. My mother is here. She’s a pianist called Shirasagi Mari. She’s hurt her arm so she have some free time in her hands now. She usually forgets I even exist. Truly a self-centered person.”

“… Tooru-san, the girl here is your daughter though? Your mother has passed away.”

My father opens his eyes wide and looks toward me. After a brief silence, he says just this:

“Who are you?”

Finding myself not able to withstand this, I ask Comrade Yoshio to help me get out of the room.

I came to slander him. But to have been looked at with those eyes like that… I feel sick and am no longer able to say anything.

I suppose my face must have been quite pale, for Comrade Yoshio squats down in front of me and grips my hands.

“Let’s go home for today. Kujouin-shi is not in a state to be able to talk to you right now.”

I could do nothing but nod silently.