Free Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui Page A

party was meant to mark the appointment of a new CEO by one of the company’s parts manufacturers. Though held in a top-class hotel in the center of Tokyo, it was not a particularly important event; Noda, together with his President and Sukenobu, the Managing Director for Sales, had planned to make a brief appearance and then leave. But many of their counterparts from the industry were also present, and the President had been pulled this way and that by people needing a moment of his time. As a result, neither Noda nor Sukenobu had been able to get away as planned. There were people they hadn’t met in a while; there were even some that Noda needed to talk to.
    It was just at this time that Noda had started to feel anxious. He’d started to imagine what would happen if he had an attack at the party, a gathering of all the main players in his trade. Suddenly a chill had gone down his spine and he’d broken out in a sweat. If he’d stayed where he was, he would definitely have had an attack. And with that certain knowledge in mind, he’d managed to pull himself away.
    He hadn’t suffered any further attacks since the session with Paprika. But a single treatment was never going to cure anxiety neurosis altogether. The awful knowledge that an attack could occur at any time – naturally, choosing the most inopportune time and place, like tonight – remained the same as ever. He’d already finished the anxiolytics Paprika had given him.
    Noda decided not to return to the party venue. Instead, he made his way to the lobby. There, he announced his imminent departure to the reception desk staff, and graciously accepted his paper bag containing the customary party gift. Then he went to sit on a black leather sofa offering a view of the entrance to the party venue. There he rested while waiting for the President and Sukenobu to emerge. The lobby was well ventilated. Noda was feeling better already.
    The President appeared, released at last by his petitioners. “Where’s Sukenobu?” he asked.
    “I saw him just now … He was nabbed by the President of Aoyama Seiki … Getting an earful of something or other …”
    The President sat in the armchair opposite Noda. He was the second President in the company’s history, and fifteen years older than Noda. But his healthy complexion gave him a rather youthful look.
    “Now, what was his name? That Managing Director of Teisan.”
    “Segawa?”
    “That’s it. Segawa.” The President smiled. “He was here, wasn’t he.”
    “Yes. He was here.”
    The President seemed only too aware that Segawa was the chief opponent of the zero-emissions vehicle.
    Segawa, fat and bull-necked, emerged from the party in conversation with Sukenobu. Sukenobu took his party gift. Segawa did not; that meant he was staying. Noda had heard that he was always one of the last to leave any party.
    Sukenobu looked a little flustered when he saw Noda. The President didn’t notice the pair, as he sat with his back to them. Not realizing who was sitting opposite Noda, Segawa moved toward him with a leer, fully intent on making his customary snide remark.
    “Well hello there, Noda. Haven’t seen you at the usual place recently? Kurokawa misses you so badly!” Kurokawa was a Ministry official.
    The President turned to look. Segawa was taken aback. “Oh! Hello, Mr. President. Leaving so soon? Really. Well, well.”
    Smiling inscrutably, the President watched Segawa walk off toward the toilet.
    Sukenobu’s head glistened with perspiration as he eased himself into an armchair. “Er, sorry to have kept you waiting,” he said to Noda. “That man just now, what was his name, yes, Segawa, you seem to know him quite well?”
    Noda gave a wry smile. That’s rich, when you’ve only just been talking to him yourself! Sukenobu seemed unduly concerned that the President might have noticed him coming out of the party venue with the senior executive of a rival company. A petty concern, really, but typical of