Free Something Strange Across the River by Kafū Nagai

*
    I’ve yet to finish Disappearance , though I began to write it at the start of summer. Early that evening, when Oyuki said “It’s already been three months,” I realized that it had been even longer since I decided to record the story of Junbei and Mitsuko. When I had last put brush to paper, Junbei had taken Sumiko out of their room to escape the heat. They’d gone to cool off at Shiraghige Bridge, and were discussing the direction they wished to take their relationship. I went to the bridge and leaned against its railings myself.
    When I was first toying with the plot of the novel I had intended to make their relationship a rather light matter. However, as the story progressed, that seemed to suit the characters less and less. The heat of the summer grew oppressive along with my confusion, and so I had taken a measure of time off from the project.
    And yet, leaning over the railings of the bridge, the echoes of the running river below and the crowds dancing in the park floating over to me, I found myself reflecting on Oyuki’s protracted “ already ,” and in doing so decided that Junbei and Mitsuko were not, in the least, unnatural or forced. Their relationship did not seem manipulated by the author (myself) for any effect. Furthermore, if I were to intercede in my original plans and alter the course of their relationship, that alteration itself would stick out.
    I took a taxi home from Kaminarimon and, as usual, washed my face, shaved, and lit a stick of incense and placed it in the holder by my inkstone. I reached for my unfinished, abandoned manuscript and began to read it over.
    * * *
    “What’s that over there? See it? Is it a factory or something?”
    “I think it’s a petroleum company. That whole area used to be really pretty—or so I heard. I read it in a book once.”
    “Want to go for a walk over there? It’s not so late yet.”
    “But there’s a police box just over there.”
    “You’re right. Let’s go back then. You’d think we were murderers, the way we have to creep around.”
    “Hey now, don’t talk so loud.”
    Junbei fell silent.
    “You don’t know who is going to hear you…”
    “You’re right. But sneaking around and living like this—I’ve never done it before. It feels…I don’t know. I’ll never forget it.”
    “That’s why they say to stay away from women…don’t they now?”
    “Sumi-chan, ever since last night, I feel…I feel like I’m suddenly much younger. I feel like I finally have something to live for. Know what I mean?”
    “People are so emotional. Don’t get down on yourself.”
    “I know. But no matter how I may feel, I’m not young anymore. You’ll get rid of me before too long.”
    “There you go again—even though I keep telling you not to think that way. Just look at me, I’ll be 30 soon. Besides, I’ve already done the things I want to. I’d like to settle down and save some money, you know?”
    “You really want to start a little oden shop?”
    “I’m going to give the deposit to Teru in the morning. Then you won’t have to use your money anymore, right? It’ll be just like we talked about last night.”
    “But then…”
    “It’ll be fine. You have your savings, so everything else will be fine. I’ll take my money and pay everyone off. I’ll buy rights and everything. No matter how you look at it, that’s the best for everyone.”
    “Are you sure you can trust Teru? I mean, we’re talking about money.”
    “She’s fine. She’s rich. She’s got the king of Tamanoi as her patron.”
    “What’s that mean?”
    “This guy, he owns tons of shops and houses around here. He’s around 70 years old too, a really energetic fellow. He came into the cafe sometimes.”
    “Is that so.”
    “Anyway, she says that if I’m really going to go for it I might as well go all out. Give up on the little oden shop and take over one of his businesses. Teru and her patron have both said the same thing, they say they’ll set me up