Chapter 119
"Ryosaku-san, there's something I'd like to give you. Please wait a moment."
With that, Ryoko disappeared into the bedroom in the back.
When she returned a while later, she had in her hands... an old photo album, a letter... and a small case for a ring.
"This is, Ryosaku-san. Isao-san gave it to me on the morning he passed away when he stopped by the city hall. He told me to give it to you when Ryosaku-san came to the city hall."
"Ryoko-san..."
"Isao-san...knew that you would come to the city hall in K City someday...and he also knew that he didn't have much time left to live."
"......."
"When I asked him, 'What if he doesn't come...?' he smiled and said, 'He'll come...He'll definitely be here.' Isao-san loved you with all his heart. Now, Ryosaku-san, please open that album."
When Ryosaku opened the album...there were pictures of Mieko when she was still a baby, and as she grew up, her adorable appearance unfolded like a dream, like a documentary film.
Mieko was a tiny little girl before she met Ryosaku.
She was playing innocently with her father and mother, and her older sister.
There were also photos of the amusement park on the field trip, taken in a different location than the photos of Mieko that Ryosaku had.
There were also photos of her at various events at K Elementary School.
Sports day, kite-flying competition, school performance...
And in these photos, not only Mieko, but also Ryosaku, Lisa, Rika, the late Teacher Yoshiko, Principal Yano, Ryosaku's homeroom teacher, Kitano, young Oyama...the girls in Mieko's group were all smiling and looking like they were having fun with Mieko...and happy smiles.
Every time Ryosaku looked at these photos, he felt as if many nostalgic memories he had almost forgotten were vividly floating up before his eyes.
...It was very sad, and yet like a sweet fragrance, soft and comfortable...
And the last photograph on display...it was a group photo of Mieko and the others at the entrance ceremony at K Elementary School...it was the photo of Ryosaku and Mieko meeting for the first time, getting to know each other...and when their eyes met, Mieko gave Ryosaku an angelic smile...this such a nostalgic, precious photo welcomed Ryosaku with a warmth and kindness.
...For Ryosaku, this was truly a wonderful "birthday present" from Isao, the perfect one.
