誰かの写真
Somebody's Picture
Without a proper confirmation, I'm too worried to continue.
I already have a history in which I boarded a bus on intuition, fell asleep, and was awakened by the driver, very far from my intended destination.
......I think the trauma lingers even now.
At any rate, it's undoubtedly a good idea if I check with someone knowledgeable before boarding. It's not like it'll take much time.
On the other hand, no such person seems available right now.
You would think the station worker would be knowledgeable enough, but he's, unfortunately, in mid-conversation.
............
......Maybe he's touching upon how beautiful the other party is?
Waiting for my turn politely is also a good idea, but as I become ensnared by curiosity, I decide to edge a little closer.
Station worker: So then... let me see...
"Hmm..." says the worker, twisting at the neck.
It seems that she's asking a question while showing him something in her hand.
Could she be asking him about a route, like me?
With a little stretching of my height, I lift my eyes over the taller shoulder, and peer into the palm of her hand.
It's a photograph.
Captured within is a boy about her age, with a gentle looking face.
Seeing as his face isn't turned this way (i.e. the camera), it could have been a photo from hiding.
Station worker: Hmm, I'm sorry, but I don't recognize him.
Girl in uniform: I see...
Station worker: As you can see, even considering people I know, not many come through here, so if he had, I think I would remember, but...
Station worker: Well, there are other avenues of traffic like busses and such, so he could be here...
Girl in uniform: I see.
Somehow it begins to resemble an interrogation from a detective drama.
............
......Hmm.
Could it be that she's been chasing him all this way to come to a place like this?
What manner of relationship do they have? Siblings? Lovers? Maybe even engagement?
All things considered, for someone like me who has lived a common life, it brushes up a kind of romantic feel.
Well, no. My present circumstances could probably be considered a bit far removed from commonplace.
...Oh. While I was thinking about this and that, it seems the conversation promptly came to a close.
Girl in uniform: Thank you very much.
Station worker: Okay, sorry I couldn't be of any help.
Girl in uniform: Please don't let it bother you. If I may...
After putting the picture away and bowing her head, she turns on her heel and leaves the station.
A gallant, straight drawn form from the back.
Kei: ............
Station worker: Oya, ma'am. You're still here?
Kei: Yes!?
Again caught staring at strangers, I return to myself at the sound of the station worker's voice.
Kei: Ah, yes, that is, just a......
"Is it wrong for me to be here?" Though, saying nothing of the sort, I mangle my speech and search for the memo where I wrote the address to my father's house.
Kei: There's one small inquiry I would like to make......
Station worker: Well, if there's anything, do ask. I'm not sure I can answer, but you've come all this way from the outside.
Kei: Thank you very m-
.....Eh? Where did I put it?
Eh? Wha?
Kei: ......Um, please wait a moment!
I know that the more I fret, the more risk there is that my flailing hands will cause some accident.
Sifting through the pockets...
It's not stuffed in my wallet or my notebook planner...
As I open the bag, all the contents that were barely stuffed inside come flying out.
...and clatter to the ground.
Kei: Uuuu......
Somehow, I feel like I could cry right now.
Station worker: Hmm. Ma'am, could you also be looking for someone?
Kei: It's pretty far removed from anything like that......
Station worker: In that case, what is it?
Kei: I thought I'd have you tell me where to ride the bus to my house......
Station worker: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, and?
Kei: And, the memo where I wrote the address......
Kei: I'm looking for it, but......
Uuu, I can't find it at all...... Maybe I should call the tax counselor and have her tell me again...?
I reach for the cell phone in my breast pocket.
Phone, phone..... oh?
......Ah, that's it.
I lose things like memos really fast, so I must've put it in my phone's address book, right?
Kei: It's there!
Station worker: That's nice to hear. So, ma'am, where is it you want to go?
From the brandished cell's liquid crystal menu I call up the address book and show it to the station worker.
Kei: I would like to go to this address, so...
Station worker: Hmm, I see.
Station worker: Natural enough for a city girl to be carrying such a trendy device.
Kei: Ah, well, not quite, you see......
There seems to be no end to the anachronistic nature of this man.
First of all, the town where I live can hardly be called "the city," and cell phones nowadays are...
Kei: ......Everyone has one, you know.
Station worker: In seems that this area has bad reception, you see. Having one doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use it.
Kei: Hah, so that's how it is.
Now that I think of it, the antenna's barely holding onto one bar.
The phone call from Youko-chan also happened to cut off in mid conversation, didn't it?
Kei: ...At any rate...
Station worker: Oh?
Ah, that was close. I was about to go off on a tangent.
Kei: If I were trying to go to this address, which bus should I take?
Station worker: Ah, if you're looking for the bus stop, it's right in front of the station.
Following his fingertip, I turn my eyes away from the station.
It is right in front, but there's no market or anything nearby, so it's quite dark.
A circle and square connected by a rod, one hodgepodge object discovered. Apparently that's the bus stop indicator.
Station worker: There are two routes running through here. They both come to that stop, there.
Kei: Yes, sir.
Station worker: In your case, ma'am, it heads to the next town, so you'll be getting off mid-route. If you miss your stop, you'll cross the mountain, so keep your wits about you.
Kei: Yes, sir.
Station worker: Anyway, the place you'll disembark has the same name as the address.
Kei: Yes, sir.
Station worker: ...But, before that, ma'am...
Kei: Yes?
Station worker: Do you really intend to go there?
Kei: Yes, but...?
Station worker: Hmm......
Kei: ?
Station worker: ............
Kei: Is there something I need to know about?
Station worker: In that place, there's only one building, so I don't think I'm mistaken, but...
......Ah, so there aren't any neighbors?
After coming all this way bringing thirteen buns, it looks like they might go to waste.
I can just have them as a snack, though, so that doesn't really bother me.
Station worker: In that mansion...
Kei: Eh?
Station worker: There are...
Kei: W-what are...?
Station worker: ...A lot of rumors, you see...
Kei: ......
Worker-san, please don't change your voice so gleefully...
Station worker: Perhaps it was about ten years back... when they said the family living there was spirited away and completely disappeared, or the like...
Kei: C-couldn't they have just moved...?
Station worker: No, no. Actually another rumor has it that a murder case was involved.
Kei: No way......
Station worker: Oh, yes way...
Station worker: ...However, if the daughter of that house is coming to visit, then you could say a rumor is nothing more than a rumor, then... haha.
Turning the puncher in the palm of his hand, he breaks out of his storytelling visage.
Kei: ......Come on, please don't scare me like that.
Station worker: Hahahaha. Sorry about that. You seemed like a good target for a joke, ma'am. I couldn't help myself.
Kei: Geez...... Is it alright for a station worker to be playing pranks on his customers?
Station worker: But if I didn't, it would be oh so boring.
Station worker: Come to think of it, recently people speak of seeing a Zashikiwarashi (TN: House-watching god.), or being played for a fool by a shape-changing fox, you see.
......I get the feeling like a tanuki (TN: shape-shifting raccoon) is playing around with me...
Kei: I've had enough of that story.
Station worker: Is that so?
Kei: So I need to board the bus to the next town, right?
Station worker: That's it. No use doing it today, though.
Kei: ......Huh?
Station worker: Did you hear the sound of the bus leaving before? Actually it was a little while ago...
Now that I think of it, I can't really say I didn't hear it...
Kei: ...Could it be?
Station worker: That's right. It was the sound of the last bus driving off.
Kei: Even though it's this early?
I would normally say it's around dinnertime. Individual stores might have closed by now, but it's a little early for the time of the last bus.
Station worker: However you put it, that's how it is in the country.
Station worker: It's going to the next town over the mountain, so for the last point it takes quite a while. At any rate, there aren't any riders...
Indeed, the only rider right now would be me.
I can understand that increasing the service hours from such a state would produce nothing but red ink, so it's enough to convince me to give up, but...
......What should I do?
Station worker: Right now, you're thinking "what should I do now?"
Kei: That's what I'm thinking.
Station worker: I have a pretty good idea for you, though.
Kei: Good idea?
I adjust my stance half a step back at the sight of his prankster's smile.
Station worker: This station has no night watch room, and I wouldn't even joke about lodging you in one. And it'd be bad form to pull you into a single man's house, old and withered though he may be, therefore...
Kei: Therefore?
Station worker: How about I introduce you to a Japanese-style hotel?
At the simplified proposition, I let the strength out of my shoulders.
Kei: A hotel, huh?
But if it's a hotel, then...
Station worker: Nothing to worry about. I'll put in a word for you, so even if you're underage everything'll work out. The lodging expenses can't be that much, either.
A wink, as if to say "everything's under control."
......What should I do?
I've already come this far. Should I push on and head to the house?
Or should I obediently let them lodge me at the inn?
......Hmm.
バスがなくても何とか。。。
Even without the bus, I can still…
旅館を紹介してもらうことにした
I decided to have him introduce me to the hotel.