Chapter 7

I tried to take out the house key from my pocket and finally realized that I had left it in my dirty uniform.

"Is something wrong, Rei-chan?"

"I accidentally left the house key in my uniform when I gave it to Mr. Katsuragi."

"Mr. Katsuragi? What are you talking about? I haven't heard anything about this."

I realized I hadn't told them. While briefly explaining my interaction with Mr. Katsuragi, I pulled out the hairpin from my hair and used it to open the front door.

"Hey, Rei-chan!"

Mr. Futago shouted. Since we are in the countryside, it's not a problem to shout at night.

"That's not how a key is supposed to work, right?!"

Well, I guess you would think that. I agree.

"It's better than doing nothing, I suppose."

Besides, I think this sliding door would come off if you kicked it. It's really just a windbreak. When I opened the sliding door with a creak, it led to a small entrance.

I guided Ms. Sara and the others to the living room, which doubles as a bedroom, took out futons from the closet, and quickly prepared some brown rice tea and pickles as a snack.

"...There's almost nothing here."

"Yes, I used to live here with three others, so I don't have many personal items."

"Personal items? There's not even a TV. Oh, is that a black phone? I've never seen one before!"

Ms. Sara, still in cultural shock, couldn't say a word. The six-mat room had a low table, a cassette player, and a bookshelf, but it looked very poor.

"Is there another room?"

Mr. Futago asked with great interest. There was indeed another room connected to the six-mat living room, which used to be Miss Mari's room.

"It was the room my late grandmother used."

I said this and opened the sliding door.

"..."

The two of them stood still, eyes wide open.

The eight-mat room contained a Steinway grand piano and a bed. The windows leading to the veranda had heavy damask rose curtains. The floor was covered with an oriental carpet. The bedspread was made of Alençon lace. Miss Mari loved lace. The Alençon lace I used to decorate my hair today was also hers.

"Your grandmother had such a luxurious room, yet you live such a simple life, Rei-chan?"

I always think 'simple' is a good word. What's the difference between being poor and living simply?

"I've never been particularly dissatisfied. I was told that this piano was moved before the villa was seized. It should have been a problem, but it seems they turned a blind eye. Miss Mari didn't like living here. And Fukiko-san would be heartbroken by the sight of her. It was a sort of mini-drama. I think this room was her only comfort."

I prefer the living room to Miss Mari's room. At night, we would put away the low table and lay out futons to sleep with Fukiko-san. Fukiko-san was a devoted follower of Miss Mari. I was like an extra. Still, she raised me and cared for me.

"Can you play the piano, Rei-chan?"

"Sure, I can play it normally."

Mr. Futago asked, looking at the piano. I was made to practice the piano for more than six hours a day. Miss Mari's instruction was strict. She would hit my back or legs with a bamboo ruler, even if I didn't make a mistake, saying my interpretation of the piece was wrong. Her instructions were often abstract and hard to understand. She would use French or German during lessons. Incidentally, I was also made to study other subjects, with the same method as piano lessons—getting hit if I made a mistake. It was a very simple educational method. The goal was to instill a level of education that wouldn't embarrass the Kujouin family. Our daily life was mostly in English, and Fukiko-san could also speak English.

Even though I, a very poor person, would never have the opportunity to show off my dancing or manners, I endured Miss Mari's training because it made Fukiko-san happy.

"Do you have any requests?"

"Hmm, since the moon is so beautiful tonight, how about Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14?"

"Then I'll play the Vienna Urtext edition."

Actually, if the moon is beautiful, Debussy's Clair de Lune would be better. I warmed up my fingers and began to play Beethoven's Sonata, known as the Moonlight. After the first movement, I took a deep breath and moved on to the third movement. I really wanted to play it like Glenn Gould, but after being severely scolded by Miss Mari, I never tried to imitate him again. Ah, now that Miss Mari is gone, I could play freely.

In the end, I played it as usual, following Miss Mari's instructions. After a moment, I received applause from the two of them.

"Oh, that was really wonderful! Rei-chan, what a passionate performance!"

"Yeah, it was great. Your grandmother was a pianist, right?"

Yes, Miss Mari was a young pianist who was active in Europe before the war. She returned to Japan and married my grandfather, Kujouin Shigetarou. After the war, she continued her activities in America rather than in Europe, which still bore the scars of war. She apparently only wanted to perform in proper concert halls. That's a very Miss Mari-like story. However, she was involved in an accident and could never perform on stage again. I never heard the details from Miss Mari, but Fukiko-san often told me, crying, that if it weren't for that accident, Miss Mari wouldn't be here. Since I've only ever lived in this place, I felt a bit awkward.

"It's almost eight o'clock. Your family will worry if you're late."

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry for staying so long. Still, is it really okay for you to live alone in such a place?"

"It's fine. There's nothing to steal. The most valuable thing here is this piano, but it would be too much trouble to steal it."

When I said this, Ms. Sara and Mr. Futago disagreed.

"I'm not worried about thieves. I'm worried about you!"

"Oh, you mean a burglar who might try to harm me?"

"That's not what I mean. There's a possibility that someone might target you!"

I see, if there's nothing valuable, they might try to take my chastity. I once heard on the radio that some burglars defecate out of frustration when they can't find anything valuable.

"I understand. I should try not to encounter burglars."

"...That's correct, but what if someone breaks in with the intention of targeting you?"

"Targeting me? I've never thought about that."

No matter how much we talk, nothing will be resolved. I tried to explain the concept of a surveillance society, but they didn't seem to understand.

"I've been fine so far, so I should be fine today. Please don't worry so much. I'll buy some security devices soon. And if something happens, I'll run to the landlord's house."

They reluctantly nodded. In return, Mr. Futago handed me a smartphone.

"I have two. One for you. Keep it with you at all times."

"I can't accept such an expensive item."

"If something happens to you later, I won't be able to sleep. Please keep this smartphone. Our security company will come in an emergency."

I ended up borrowing the smartphone. They wouldn't leave otherwise.

"There are also dating games on it, so you can play them. Here's the charger. And in an emergency, press this."

Mr. Futago showed me how to use it. It was my first time touching a smartphone. Amazing! It's a whole new world!

"Please don't stay up too late."

"Yes, please don't!"

Finally, they got into the car driven by Mr. Takahashi and left. It had been a tumultuous day.

By the way, I didn't buy the bonito flakes. Should I look in the kitchen again? Ah, there they are! Now I can make delicious Tosa stew!

Before taking a bath, I prepared the bamboo shoots. The flavor should have soaked in by tomorrow. When I got out of the bath, it was already 10:30. Since I have to get up early tomorrow, I decided to go to bed. I placed the smartphone, which I was told to keep with me, on the pillow. I couldn't help but play with it. The smartphone itself emits light, so I could read the text even in the dark! I struggled at first to figure out how to input text but eventually mastered the flick input method.

I can't stop! What a wonderful thing, this smartphone! What a groundbreaking invention! Being able to watch performances by various people is like a dream!

And so, I became addicted to my smartphone in one night. Even though I kept telling myself to stop, I couldn't. It's a terrifying addiction.