Chapter 10.2

The familiar paper lantern hung outside the front of the Murasako rice shop. The moment she saw it, Mutou Aoi felt like she was going to cry. The smell of incense, the bustle of people, a flourish of activity inappropriate for the night. They were all things she'd just experience. Even though it had just finally ended. Aoi had the feeling she was in a repeating bad dream.

Tamotsu urged on Aoi who had stood unable to move.

"...Let's go."

Mm, Aoi nodded. They neared the shop and peered in. In the shop were shelves near the wall, and those were draped over with the black and white curtains. They could see past the open door into the dwelling area. As they went up they immediately saw Murasako Munetaka seated.

Aoi gripped her prayer beads, approaching Munetaka. When she spoke to him, he looked up with eyes red from crying to Aoi.

"....Ah, from Mutou-san's place."

Aoi bowed her head. "My condolences for your loss."

"It's very polite of you. ---Did the Mutou-san's household also lose their oldest son?"

Yes, Aoi nodded.

"That's terrible. Have things calmed down?"

Aoi gave a troubled smile. "Muntaka's family has had it terrible, too. That is... isn't it hard?"

Mm, Munetaka nodded. "He was still little. It's not that I wouldn't care if he were bidder, but it's just so pitiful."

"I understand."

"But, maybe now he doesn't have anything to lose, it might be better that it was now. If he'd had a job, if he had a girlfriend, that might be even more pitiful."

That can't, Aoi started to say interrupted by a sob. To those left behind it didn't matter if they were an adult or a child. It still meant that a family member had died. 

Tamotsu prodded her lightly. "Nee-san." Aoi blinked, quickly wiping her tears.

"I'm sorry. Even though I came to pay condolences to you."

"It's all right. I need to pay condolences to you. It really was a shame."

Yes, Aoi nodded.

"Uhm... Where is Masao-kun?"

Munetaka made a complicated expression, with a warped smile. "Upstairs. He said it was too much effort and he won't come down, holing up in his room."

"But that's... even though it's the night vigil?"

Munetaka smiled bitterly. "I didn't like Hiromi much. He doesn't enjoy everyone in the house's attention being turned towards Hiromi."

"That's..."

"Even now that he's died he doesn't make any expression over it," Munetaka said making an expression as if smelling something unpleasant somewhere. "Oh, is all he had to say. He looked like it was completely someone else's problem. Even if we tell him to come down, he says it has nothing to do with him." He's that kind of guy, Munetaka said as if spitting the words out.

"... I was upset over my older brother's death, and during the all night vigil, I ended up saying something cruel to Masao-kun. I thought that I must apologize for that."

"Masao did something rude before you did, didn't he? I'll have to apologize for him, too."

"Not at all."

"Masao won't come down. His room's on the second floor. Sorry, but could I have you go up by yourselves?"

Aoi nodded and urged Tamotsu on. 

Weaving between condolence callers, they went up to the second floor. Tamotsu knew which room was Masao's. Tamotsu tried to open the door but it wouldn't open, as if locked. He tried knocking on the door.

"Oi, Masao," Tamotsu called out but there was no response from within. "You're in there, aren't you? Oi."

"Masao-kun, it's Aoi. Please, open the door."

For a while there was no sign of life from inside. After how many times knocking or calling out, there was the sound of movement and the door fiantly opened. The inside of the room was dark. As if trying to peep through the crevice, Masao's face faintly peered out.

"Uhm.... That is, I am sorry for your loss." Aoi said, Masao turning away.

"It's not nothin' to do with me."

That's terrible, Aoi started to say but her words stopped. Tonight she had come to apologize. She should not say anything to blame him.

"That is, I'm sorry about before. I think that what I said was mean."

Whatever, Masao said through a cracked voice. 

"Sorry. We were a little upset, so."

".....Oh." Masao said lowly, closing the door. There was the clinking sound of a lock.

"---Masao." Tamotsu knocked on the door. Aoi called out to him too but there was once again no response from within. 

They spent some time outside of the door calling to him but as Tamotsu breathed a sigh, Aoi stopped knocking. She wanted to cry something terrible.

Tamotsu gently nudged her, turning back saying it couldn't be helped. They thought they'd come to apologize another time.

Masao leaned heavily against the door frame for some time, listening to the sounds in the hallway. 

Light footsteps carried far off down the hallway; when hearing them go downstairs he pulled away from the door, staggering to the bed. Without any power in his legs, he collapsed into a seated position as if his back gave out. His remaining strength gave out and he fell, the back of his head bumping the wall but Masao gave no particular response. His eyes were blank, open as he looked at the ceiling. Those eyes looked possessed. The conjunctiva had a strangely blueish hue to them. His face was white, with no color to his lips either. Those lips were licked by a tongue equally as devoid of color. His throat was inexplicably dry. He wanted water but movement was tiresome. 

".....Water." 

His mumbled voice did not reach past the door. 

Masao just continued gazing at the ceiling, once again murmuring for water.