Chapter 122
"...Ryosaku-san, thank you so much. Your reading was so heartfelt, so lively and wonderful... I was really moved... Tears came to my eyes. I felt as if Isao had come back to life in front of me and was speaking to me kindly and calmly."
"Ryoko-san..."
"And your sparkling eyes... they're so beautiful. Those clear eyes are just like Isao's. ...Ryosaku-san, even though you and he aren't related by blood, you are Isao-san's son after all. You are his true son."
"......"
"And you, Ryosaku-san. Your scent... the refreshing, clean scent that seems to overflow from your body... it's the same as Isao-san's. It's like new green leaves, fresh and fresh, and it blows through my heart, a wonderful, wonderful fragrance."
(I see... After Mieko-chan died, my scent returned to normal. Maybe it's because...)
At this point, Ryosaku was convinced of "something", and he compared this fact with his past experiences and asked Ryoko for her opinion.
"Ryoko-san... the truth is, something happened to me that I'm a little concerned about."
With that preface, he told Ryoko a strange episode that he had experienced.
When Ryosaku had previously invited his ex-girlfriend, Rika Toyama, to his home for a chat, Rika had told him that he had a "scent like fresh green leaves."
And on the day that Ryosaku had been reunited with Mieko, Rika had also heard from his beloved Mieko, who he had held in her arms, that he had the same "scent of fresh green leaves" as Mieko's father, Isao, and her former best friend, Lisa Tanaka.
He also told Ryosaku about the fact that, for a certain period of time, that "scent" had changed into a completely different "aroma."
The trigger for Ryosaku to notice this "change" was...the words uttered in his sleep by another of his ex-girlfriends, Lisa Tanaka, on the first night of that "Agricultural Training in Hokkaido."
Lisa had said in her sleep that Ryosaku's body's "scent" was the same as Mieko's.
And because of that, he was able to notice Lisa's "scent of fresh greenery," which was the same as his own.
And now... from Ryoko's words, he realized that his own "scent" had returned to its original "scent of fresh greenery."
Hearing this, Ryoko smiled and told Ryosaku.
"Ryosaku-san, maybe it was Mieko-chan protecting you."
"Eh...? Mieko-chan, you mean?"
"Yes. Mieko-chan... really loved Ryosaku-san from the bottom of her heart. And I think she always prayed for Ryosaku-san not to get hurt or sick..."
"Ryoko-san..."
"So Mieko-chan's 'scent' was like a barrier, protecting Ryosaku-san to the best of her ability. And I think it disappeared at the same time she died."
(That's right... On that day when I met Mieko-chan again... me and Mieko-chan... When Mieko-chan and I hugged each other, she gave me "scent"... When Rika-chan came to the Agricultural Festival, she, like Lisa-chan, said that my body smelled sweet and sour, like cherries... Mieko-chan, you were protecting me then too. ...Is that so, Mieko-chan...)
"But Ryosaku-san, there's nothing to worry about. After all, Mieko-chan is alive and well inside of you. And Isao-san is watching over the two of you with kindness, isn't he?"
With that, Ryoko... hugged Ryosaku gently and stroked his hair.
(Ryoko-san... you have a wonderful scent. I never noticed it before... it's really faint, but it's the same scent as the late Suzuki Teacher... that "peach-like scent". Ah, Ryoko-san's "scent" is gradually getting stronger... my favorite, nostalgic, comforting, wonderful "scent"...)
"Ryosaku-san, please stay healthy... and when you've settled down, please come visit me in K City. I'll be waiting for you. And if you're ever in trouble or in trouble, please call me anytime. I'll give you my business card. I'm... really glad I met you today. Thank you for coming..."
With that, Ryoko handed Ryosaku her business card with her contact information, and even gave him a "brandy cake" and "honey castella" that she had bought at a local pastry shop that morning as a souvenir for Ryosaku's family.
And on the way home after parting ways with Ryoko, Ryosaku slowly drove around the "environment of Mieko when she was alive", which he had researched beforehand, taking with him the "souvenirs" that Ryoko had given him and the "birthday presents" that Isao had given him... Feeling calm and happy, he set out on the long journey to his hometown in Y City, where the beloved "letter" that Mieko had left for Ryosaku was waiting.
(...Mieko-chan, please wait for me. I'm heading home now. I love you, Mieko-chan...)
