I stood in front of the house early that morning, having taken a red-eye train. Knocking on the gates had no results so I climbed a tree at the back that overlooked the backyard but I see nothing. The plants look very dry as if they’ve not been watered for a while. Even the bucket is sitting beside the well and the rope broken… That’s unlike Tokio-san to leave it like that. It’s deserted. No wonder my letters came back. I frown and go back from where I came. Perhaps I should’ve answered some of the letters Tsutomu sent to me while I was in Shingetsu the pass year or better yet early on when I was still in Kyushu. Crumpling the letter in my pocket, I remember his words…?
Father’s gone… At least Mother’s been feeling better lately. Tsuyoshi is going away soon and I wish brother that you were here with us. At least see him off? We’ve not heard from you in a long time. I hope this letter reaches you before your post is re-assigned again. Write to me! ~Tsutomu
?
I stroll around town with my knapsack over my shoulder and my eyes scanning the bustling streets but my mind still going over the past. I knew Fujita-san was sent abroad. I did write Tsutomu then… But the last I heard was that Fujita-san came back and their Uncle Morinosuke was staying with them. It seemed everything was fine back then, until after I received another letter from Tsutomu about Fujita-san’s abandonment of the house. I didn’t come back to Tokyo because? it didn’t come as a surprise to me that Fujita-san left. He seemed depressed even before my genpuku and it’s been three years since then. Honestly I was worried when the letters from Tsutomu stopped suddenly and when my latest replies came back unopened… I decided to take a leave of absence and not go to Hakodate to be posted there against the threat of the Koreans. I was hoping to be promoted after my tour of duty there, however… I could not sleep very well at night not knowing what has happened here in Tokyo.
?
I suppose I should get a room for the night at least…