Themisunderstandingamonghisclassmateswasclearedupquickly.Thenextday,Yasuhiroapologizedinfrontofeveryone,andonceTakamoriexplainedwhathadhappened,thetenseatmospheredisappearedasifithadneverex…
Yasuhiro’shomeroomteacherwasawomannamedTakamori.ShetaughtJapanese,butherwayofthinkingwasaslogicalandmethodicalasamathematician’s.Afterward,Yasuhirowastakentotheteachers’room,whileTsukiyamaa…
“Coffeeisbitter.”“...”Yasuhiroaddedmoremilkandstirreditaroundandaround.Then,seemingtopullhimselftogether,hecontinued....ItouchedmyheadseveraltimestomakesureIwasn’tbleeding,buttherewasnoredl…
Yasuhirofinishedeverythinginnotimeandleanedbackinhischair,lookingsatisfied.“Hey,Yasuhiro.Coffee-shopchairsarebuilttobesturdy,butthey’realsodesignedwithcare.I’dliketothinkyoucanseethatjustby…
KStationhadtwoexits.TheEastExit,withitsbusterminal,wasrelativelybusy,withpeopleconstantlycomingandgoing.ThentherewasthedesertedWestExit.LeavingthroughtheWestExit,youwalkedalongtherailwaytra…
Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 5)
2026/09/09
Grandfatherremainedsilentforawhile.“Grandpa,shallIgetyousomewater”“Yes.Please.”YoungMasayaturnedthefaucetallthewayon,filledaglasswithwater,andhandedittohisgrandfather.“Thankyou.”Grandfather…
Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 4)
2026/09/09
Masayasataloneinthelivingroom,drinkingwhiskey.Hiswifehadalreadygoneupstairstobed.Thetelevisionwasoff.Ashewatchedtheicefloatinginhisglass,imagesfromearlierthatdayseemedtoflickeracrossitssurf…
Chapter 22: “Experiencing War” (Part 3)
2026/09/09
Themeetingdidnottakelong.Twentyminuteslater,MasayaandMiyauchiwerealreadyinthecarontheirwayback.Theairconditionerwasrunning,butthesummersunwasmerciless,beatingdownonthesmallcarasthoughitmean…
Chapter 22: “War Experience” (Part 2)
2026/09/09
WhenMasayaexplainedhisplantoMiyauchi,Miyauchilistenedinsilenceunusuallyforhimthenslowlynodded.“ThenI’llarrangeadateforameetingwithPalm,andthetwoofuscangotogether.”“Thankyou.DoyouthinkMr.Shi…
Chapter 22: “War Experience” (Part 1)
2026/09/09
“Still,somethingaboutthisjustisn’tright.”MiyauchiwasraisinghisvoicemorethanusualashepressedPresidentMasaya.“...”“Nomatterhowyoulookatit,we’veneverhadanythinglikethishappenbefore.”“...Well,t…