Episode One Hundred and Eleven

The name given made me start.
Shinomori Kikuno.
Ibara had mentioned her – ‘Kikuno-san’.
Come to think of it, she’d said she’d given her my contact details.

“Are you calling for Ibara-san?”

I asked sharply, and heard a gasp on the other end of the line.

‘Yes. There’s something I’m a bit concerned about, and I’d like to get in touch with her directly.’

‘Well, she said she was going back to her family home, and I haven’t been able to reach her since.’

‘…I see. Are you a friend…?’

The conversation faltered.
The ceiling fan sounded unpleasantly loud.

‘Um…’

‘Yes?’

‘If it’s alright, could you tell me about Ibara-san?’

‘Eh?’

“I’ve heard some things. That she practically ran away from home, that she was an idol. That… she didn’t get on well with her parents. But there’s so much I don’t know.”

I pressed on, gauging her reaction.
It was meant to build trust, but had it only made her more wary?
Still, having said it, there was no turning back.

“I want to know. About Ibara-san.”

In the end, it felt like that was all there was to it.

“Her family circumstances are her family’s business. Even so, if Ibara-san is suffering, I want to help her.”

‘That is…’

Kikuno-san spoke, as if gauging my reaction.

‘As that girl’s… as her friend?’

‘Because she is important to me.’

I knew full well that wasn’t answering her question.
Still, that was the primary reason, the whole reason.
I didn’t expect such words to convey my feelings.
But Kikuno-san said it anyway.

‘Would you be free this Saturday?’

　†

Saturday. Wearing my work makeup and office casual attire, I headed to the meeting place. A café in front of a certain station on the Yamanote Line.
When I entered the shop, “Kikuno-san” was already seated in a corner booth. She was leafing through a hardcover novel.
After being shown to our seats by the staff, Kikuno-san looked slightly surprised.

“You…”

“Thank you for giving me your time.”

“The Shinkansen…”

“Yes. It was quite a coincidence… Ah, this is nothing special, but…”

“Oh?”

When I handed her the paper bag I’d brought, Kikuno-san’s expression softened. As it did, a modest wrinkle formed at the corner of her eye.
When we first met, I’d thought she was approaching thirty, but she might be a little older.
If she’s Ibara’s aunt, she could be over forty. You can’t tell by looking.

“Is this… Senbikiya’s fruitcake?”

“Yes.”

“How lovely. Thank you. I do like this.”

Not knowing her tastes, I’d aimed for a safe choice.
It might be a polite response, but at least it wasn’t a complete miss – I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m glad. It’s my first time preparing a gift for someone like you, Shinomori-san.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Eh?”

“The only special one is my sister’s husband. I’m just a lowly local government employee. I teach at a public secondary school.”

Saying that, Kikuno-san took a sip of her iced lemon tea.
Is that so? I’d assumed she was from the so-called upper class, like the Miyazono family.

“Teacher? Really?”

“Yes. We’re related to the Miyazono family, but that’s all. Teachers don’t get overtime pay, so my life is thoroughly ordinary. Not that that’s why, but this gift is truly welcome. I’ll gratefully accept it. And then—”

Kikuno-san glanced at me with a testing look.

“You want to hear about Ibara, don’t you?”

“Yes. And also…”

“And also?”

“About Ibara-san’s parents, her mother too.”

Kikuno-san seemed slightly taken aback. Yet, meeting my gaze, she nodded as if coming to some understanding.

“…Well, yes. Where to begin…”

Clink. The ice in her iced tea melted and crumbled.
While waiting for Kikuno-san to start speaking, I ordered a café latte on my tablet.
After it arrived, Kikuno-san began speaking quietly.

“They’re remarkably alike.”

“Huh?”

“Mother and child don’t necessarily share personalities. I know that, but she’s incredibly earnest and clumsy – truly identical in that way.”

Saying this, Kikuno-san removed a bookmark from the paperback she held.
It was an old, faded bookmark with a rose cut out of paper, its corners dulled.

“That bookmark…”

“My younger sister, Nobara, made it and gave it to me. From a lesson at her girls’ school.”

Nobara.
That was Ibara’s mother’s name.

“We used to be such close sisters. She changed after marrying into the Miyazono family and Ibara was born. She became completely distant. Now we barely speak, just a bit at New Year.”

　Having children changed her. Was that the story?
As if reading my thoughts, Kikuno-san shook her head.

“Of course, I imagine there were changes as a mother. That’s only natural. But you see, until Ibara turned four, we were a close-knit family.”

“Did something happen?”

“Her husband…”

He developed depression.
Saying this, Kikuno-san narrowed her eyes.

“For appearances’ sake, they kept it hidden outwardly. The previous head had passed away too… And then, that child changed. Or perhaps I should say, she had no choice but to change.”

“That… Did Ibara know about her father’s illness?”

“She couldn’t have known. She left home when she was in middle school.”

“And so,” Kikuno-san continued.

“Nobara took over managing the house and assets in her husband’s stead. After all, the Miyazono family is a distinguished house, so I imagine it was quite a challenge. Even with Natori-chan around.”

“Natori-chan?”

“Ah, Nobara’s junior. During her student days, she was a sweet girl who used to follow my sister around, calling ‘Nobara-san, Nobara-san’. She’s been Nobara’s secretary for ages now. Though she’s developed quite a formidable look these days, unlike back then…”

A faint smile touched Kikuno-san’s lips.

“How nostalgic. Those were the happiest days.”

Realising her throat was parched, she reached for her café latte.
The glass had become terribly sweaty without her noticing.

“So… Kikuno-san, why are you looking for Ibara?”

“I have a good friend among the housekeepers who comes and goes from that household. I heard through casual conversation that they were trying to bring Ibara back, so…”

Kikuno snorted.

“A daughter who’s turned eighteen — her parents have no business sticking their noses into where she goes. That girl is earning her own living expenses. I was going to tell her she could come stay with me if they tried to drag her back by force — but her phone and email weren’t connecting.”

So she’d turned up at the gig and left a message with Hiname-chan.
She seemed calm, yet she was the sort to do reckless things. She was a bit like Ibara after all. Not just in appearance.

“In the end, it didn’t really matter though.”

“No.”

That wasn’t true.
　Because now, I’ve been able to hear her story like this.

“Thank you for telling me all that. And, well… I realise this might be taking advantage of your apology, but…”

“Go ahead.”

“Would it be possible for me to visit the Miyazono residence?”

Kikuno-san blinked , once, twice.

“…Just to enter, is possible. I mentioned having a housekeeper friend. If we set a time, she could unlock the back door for us.”

“Really?!”

“But that’s all. She’s not under house arrest, after all. I gather Ibara decided to return herself.”

“I understand. It’s just… it might be my fault.”

“What do you mean?”

I explained the connection between my workplace and Shirahodo.
Saying it out loud again made it sound like a delusion. But I couldn’t explain Ibara’s change of heart any other way.

“I may be wrong. But even on the off chance — I don’t want to be a shackle around that girl. I want her to do what she loves, and live the way she wants to live. I want her to be happy.”

Putting it into words, it felt almost like a prayer.
I want her to be healthy. I want her to be happy.
I want her to know she is loved.
It’s fine if I’m not beside her, but if she ever wants me, I want to be there for her.
　Only now do I realise. How I’d come to harbour such strong feelings without even noticing.

“That’s why I want to talk. With Ibara, and with Ibara’s mother too.”

“…I can’t promise they’ll listen.”

“I’ll find a way.”

I have no basis for that, no plan yet, and I’m just a mere designer, but I’ll find a way.

“So please. I’m asking you.”

Saying that, I bowed my head deeply.