Chapter 121
"Dear Mr. Ryosaku Takada.
Ryosaku-kun, I'll skip the seasonal greeting at the beginning.
I don't like such empty formalities. Somehow, I've never been one for fake, superficial greetings.
By the way, Ryosaku-kun.
Thank you so much for coming to see Mieko the other day.
Mieko was also very happy...Every day, whenever she has free time, she talks to me excitedly about you.
She loved you from when she was still a child.
She really loved you with all her heart.
...Of course, even today, at this very moment, she still loves you, just like in the past, no, even more than before. I love her, of course.
I'm really sorry about Tokiko.
I'd tried to tell her off many times, not just then, but on a regular basis, but she was quite stubborn.
She's always had that fiery temper, completely different from me, and so from the beginning of our marriage, my wife and I would often clash head-on and argue constantly. My mother-in-law, Setsu Yamada, was just like her. Or maybe she had an even more fiery personality than Tokiko. So... In that sense, that might be a perfect case of inheriting something from one's parents.
Oh, excuse me.
But, Ryosaku-kun.
Tokiko and her mother Setsu are both really kind-hearted people.
For their own good, I will guarantee that myself.
It's just that they are a little less good than most people at expressing themselves... putting their feelings into words and speaking to someone face to face.
And because of their straightforward, honest and intense personalities, which mean they cannot deceive themselves, use clever, cheesy lines or lie, it is hard to know what is really going on deep inside them. I personally think that it is difficult for people who do not know the true "absolute values" of these women, such as true kindness and compassion for others, to understand their true nature... or their true "human charm".
I know this is repetitive, but I believe that you, Ryosaku-kun, have long since come to understand their "true nature" and "charm". But I repeat, for their sake, I have deliberately added this lengthy explanation.
Ryosaku-kun, there was a reason why I entrusted this letter to Ryoko Takita-san, the sister of my former lover.
It seems that I have been having "bad dreams" almost every day lately... When I wake up, I cannot remember them at all, and I strongly feel that they are some kind of important message related to my destiny.
Because of this, I thought that in case something were to happen to me, it might be a good idea to leave a message for you like this, before the situation becomes too unfortunate and hopeless.
Ryosaku-kun.
As I told you directly that day, you are already like a son to me.
No, you're my real son.
Ever since Mieko first told me about you, I couldn't wait to meet you.
I wanted to experience for myself what kind of person you are, the man Mieko loves...what kind of "human charm" does he have.
When I actually met you, I realized that my intuition was not wrong.
You are truly worthy of being chosen by Mieko, her beloved daughter.
I believe that such a charming and kind Ryosaku-kun is a "real man."
And so, I have a request for you. Please continue to love and cherish Mieko...my precious daughter, and one day welcome her to you as your wife.
In case something were to happen to me, there is something I would like to entrust to you.
That is my and Tokiko's "wedding rings", which I am entrusting to Ryoko Takita-san.
Tokiko and I usually take these rings off our left ring fingers and store them away because they get in the way of our work.
I would like to give these rings to you and Mieko as a present.
I would like Ryosaku-kun to wear my ring...and Mieko to wear Tokiko's ring on their fingers on their wedding day.
Ah, I can't wait for your "big day".
The day when I, as the bride Mieko's father, walk side by side with her down the aisle...I hope that such a wonderful day will come soon.
Ryosaku-kun, I have another present for you.
This is an album that I have treasured, of Mieko as a child.
It contains photos of our beloved Mieko, taken by Tokiko and me at various turning points in her growth since she was born.
Tokiko took all the photos of Mieko when she was living with her in Y City, and left them for us.
The photos show all the events at K Elementary School...all of them were taken by Tokiko.
There are photos of Mieko's homeroom teacher, Teacher Suzuki, and Mieko's classmates...and you, Ryosaku-kun.
Mieko especially likes the photo of you and her together...she looks entranced at you in the photo, and then, breathless, with sparkling, shining eyes, she talks to me passionately...she looks so happy.
You see, Ryosaku-kun.
When you meet up with us someday, I wanted to vividly show you all these wonderful memories you have in your mind...all the irreplaceable memories you have with Mieko, like a picture scroll.
My mother-in-law, Setsu Yamada, has asked me many times, "Hey, Isao-san. Do you know the album with the pictures of Mieko when she was little? I wonder where they went... I suddenly wanted to see them."
But I definitely wanted to give them to you...Ryosaku-kun, someday.
She has a bit of Alzheimer's...She told me that she didn't like living here and was going back to the countryside, and at the time I was very worried about whether I should let her live alone.
However, her best friend, Chii Omori-san, the owner of the candy store, would come and check on her almost every day, and would even close the store and go out of her way to buy her daily necessities and groceries.
My mother was elderly, and there was no guarantee that she would stay healthy forever...and there was also the fact that she had such strong "support" in her life...so in the end, I decided to go along with her wishes...that's how it happened.
Due to the effects of Alzheimer's, I was afraid that this important photo album would be lost, so I kept it in a safe place, even though I felt bad about it...that's how it went.
This time, I'd like to leave it with you, "temporarily."
The next time you meet Mieko and I, I hope you'll talk about old times with us...and reminisce, as you two look at the photo album together...
And when that time comes, I sincerely hope that this long letter will become a laughing matter for us, and that it will be a "momentary worry" of mine.
Ryosaku-kun, please continue to take good care of Mieko.
Ryosaku-kun, whom Mieko chose, recognized, and loved from the bottom of her heart, I will gladly accept you as my "real son", and dream of living together someday, and I will put down my pen here.
Please take good care of my son, Ryosaku-kun.
September 8, 1989, Isao Minegishi
P.S.
September 8 is Mieko's birthday.
So, Tokiko's wedding ring became her "birthday present" today.
Well then, farewell for now...
Sincerely yours."
