Chapter 12 month, action
Yatsugatake is not a mountain.
The mountains stretching about 30 kilometers from north to south across Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures are called Yatsugatake.
Chiyue, the highest peak at 2,899 meters above sea level, is the peak that Mr. Maeda and I will challenge this time.There is more than one route.If the goal is the top of Chiyue Mountain, you can climb up the mountain from Qingli, and you can climb back and forth in one day.However, we decided to challenge the route of climbing Minami Yatsudake vertically.
Go up the mountain from the Meinong Gate, pass through Sulfur, Hengyue, Chiyue, and Amitabha, and then return to the Meinong Gate.
This is the route taken by the mountain club's summer training in the summer of the first year of junior college.For me, that was the first serious climb of a mountain.The night tram then transferred to the bus. As the altitude continued to rise, the temperature of the air gradually dropped, and my worries became heavier and heavier.Although I have been training for a long time, this is an unknown world after all.I have also seen the news of the accident.But I am not afraid.
Because I have Kouichi, Kurata-senpai, Kimiko, and my reliable clubmates by my side.
When I was a student, even if I took the night tram, I still had the energy to play cards all night.But I just came back from my part-time job in "Meixiangtang" in the morning, and I can start after finishing the work in the painting classroom in the afternoon.As a preparation for tomorrow, I can only supplement sleep.Fortunately, the tram is not as crowded as it is during the summer climbing season, and I can have a double seat to myself.Maybe I will recall the past in my dream, I closed my eyes in fear.It wasn't until Mr. Maeda woke me up one stop away from the destination that I realized that I hadn't had any nightmares, let alone woke up.
The Miss Acacia contest presumably doesn't include a sleeping posture review.
When Maeda-san talked about sleep with a half wry smile, I knew I must have fallen asleep with my mouth open again.The time Haoyi reminded me, I was so shy, my face was so hot that I almost burst into flames.But it doesn't matter if Mr. Maeda knows.I even asked him how he slept with his hair in such a mess.
On the bus to Mino Portal, there was a group of students and a middle-aged couple.From time to time, their conversation revealed the expectation of the autumn outing, and the whole carriage was full of joyful atmosphere.I made a lot of determination and went with the mood of penance, but I felt that I was very strange.Everyone seems to have made a special trip to appreciate the red leaves.
Will we still be able to see koma grass in this season?I looked anxiously at Mr. Maeda next to me. He took out a notebook and read it carefully.I asked him if he was confirming the work and he told me it was the climbing log book.It seemed to record all his mountaineering records since he was a student.
It turned out that Mr. Maeda did not rely on his vague memory, but on the basis of his careful records to say that Komagusa could still be found.I leaned up to look in admiration, and on the label of the page marked "South Yatsugatake", it was written on a certain date in January three years ago.
It's not winter.This is of no reference value at all, and I turned back to stare at the scenery outside the window.
We arrived at Mino Gate, and after going through the formalities for entering the mountain at the rest house, Mr. Maeda and I spread bento boxes on the table in front of the rest house.Seven o'clock in the morning happens to be breakfast time, but I don't think fried bento is so suitable.This is a bento that my mother asked me to bring.
Last night, my mother rode a bicycle all the way home from "Bamboo House".While I was changing shoes in the porch, I heard the screeching of brakes, and she was out of breath.My mother said she would send me off, but she never sent me off when I traveled in the past.Is she still very worried about me going to climb the mountain? "It just happened to be in time. It's great." She took out a paper bag from her bag and handed it to me.
"This is a bento. If you want to climb a mountain, you don't have enough energy."
"Such a big package can't fit in a backpack, and it's impossible to carry it around."
"I wrapped the rice balls separately, so let's eat the bento before climbing the mountain. Besides, the store hasn't opened yet in the early morning. That person also likes fried rice, right?"
"Who?" I was taken aback. I never said that I would go with Mr. Maeda.
"Kimiko. When she came to our house to play, she ate very deliciously. She kept saying that it was delicious."
"I remember it really well, so I'll take it with me. Thank you."
I got up, put on my hiking bag, took the paper bag, and walked out of the entrance.Mr. Maeda asked me to meet in front of the station. If he said he wanted to pick me up at my house, I really didn't know how to refuse. This worry finally dissipated after I walked out of the house. "Be careful." My mother waved to me, and I said, "Then I'm going," and walked forward with my back to her. After walking for a long time, I could still feel the sight behind me.When I got to the corner, I wanted to turn around and wave to her, but I was afraid that my mother would say "I'm sorry" if she saw it, and then turned back home.I can't look back, I bit my lip and continued to move forward.
"I'm sorry, but I brought so many big and small bags with me. It's like forcing you to eat them all. I eat oil early in the morning. I don't know if my stomach can take it?"
I asked Maeda-san while making tea in a cup.
"No problem. I like to eat the deep-fried set meal of 'Takenoya' anytime."
Maeda-san's mouth was already full.
"You are really familiar with 'Bamboo House'."
"Yeah, the taste is the same, and the other side dishes are basically the same as the set menu of 'Bamboo House'. Did you go there specifically to order?"
In a disposable bento box, there are dry fried and dried plum rice, potato salad, and dry boiled pumpkin.
"No, my mother works at 'Bamboo House'."
"I see, that's the one. I just thought, you have the same last name. Your mother is so beautiful."
"Thank you. Unfortunately, I look like my father."
My mother has always been very strict with herself, and always complained about me like this, but she is indeed very beautiful.Occasionally, she would still show a cute look like a young lady. The temperament exuded from her was completely different from that of me who was born in poverty.If such a tragic thing hadn't happened, she probably wouldn't have a stern expression, but would have been more kind and gentle.
Then, my character must be cuter.
If father is still alive...
What am I going to do now?
In order to get rid of distracting thoughts, I stuffed all the fried rice into my mouth in one breath and started chewing.Maybe my expression is cute now, but in front of me is Maeda-san.For now, let's just concentrate on thinking about mountain climbing.Save a little stamina, dry fried with ginger and soy sauce seasoned in advance, even if it is cold, it is delicious.This is the taste of "Takenoya".However, the ones my mother makes at home are usually flavored with mayonnaise, and I still prefer that one.
"By the way, what do you usually ask for every day?"
Mr. Maeda raised his chopsticks and asked, he had already eaten 80% of the bento.
"Forget about this kind of question. If I can ask you to come here with me, isn't it just a request? But Mr. Maeda, you should ask me to do something."
"I've also thought about a request."
"What, if that's the case, let's say it. However, no matter how heavy the luggage is, I can't carry it."
"It's a very simple thing, just let me say it."
"What is it?"
"From now on, it will take about six hours to reach the top of Mount Chidake. Kurata-senpai, and those things that Kimiko asked you for, even if you don't tell them, you will keep thinking about them when you climb the mountain. Then just tell me Listen. Of course, people get tired easily while talking and walking, so you should rest a few times. I like mountain climbing very much, so I will give you a ride and listen to a few short stories to relieve boredom. So, you want to If you want to rest, or if you want me to carry the luggage, it's up to you."
"These stories are not so pleasant at all."
"I know this well. The smell of gunpowder at the station was really strong."
When he said that, I couldn't refuse him.
"I see. Then my request is, Mr. Maeda, you have to walk in front of me. I walk in front. It may be easier for both of us if Mr. Maeda matches my pace. But there is no one in front of us, You want me to keep talking, it looks really stupid. Please rest with me when I am tired. Also, if I say I am tired, Mr. Maeda, please tell me something. If we Without talking, I will definitely think about those annoying past events again. About the mountain, about the public hall, anything is fine."
"Okay. Then I can only talk about some boring things. Let's go!"
After throwing away the empty bento box and confirming the route on the map, we headed for the first goal - Mt. Iwo.
This is the third time I have taken this route.
The first time was the summer camp of the mountain club when I was in the first year of junior high school.At that time, I had already climbed several times in the same day and back, but this was the first vertical climb that required an overnight stay.This is the perfect route for beginners in mountaineering.
The second time was the following year, the summer of the second year of junior high school.Himiko and I came here together.The summer training camp climbed Mount Gun, but we wanted to come here no matter what—in order to build a tomb for Kurata-senpai.
Kurata-senpai fell ill, and it was exactly one month after our first summer training camp. When I visited an art museum with him, he fell in front of Konishi Lufu's painting, which is the National Museum of Art in Tokyo.Do you know the work "Unknown Moon"?Because this painting cannot be seen in our town, Kurata-senpai must go there to see it regardless of his physical discomfort.
The senior fell down in front of the painting, his face was blue and his nose was bleeding.
Although the staff of the art museum called an ambulance and sent the senior to the hospital, I was at a loss and could only call the apartment of another senior in the club, Koichi.Because when we first met, I accidentally called him "Dad", and because of this, I received a lot of care from him.
He is the son of a famous architect. According to Mr. Kurata, the art gallery we visited was designed by his father.
Fortunately, Koichi was in the apartment, and soon came to the hospital, and got in touch with Kurata-senpai's hometown.Even though Koichi and I were outside the ward that day, we were thinking about Kurata-senpai.
We heard the name of the disease the next day because Kurata-senpai's parents also came to Tokyo.
Acute myelogenous leukemia.
You must have heard of it?The main character of a popular TV series has this kind of disease, but although I know the name of the disease, I don't know the cause, and I don't know what the symptoms are.I watched it every week in front of the TV, thinking it was just acting, and this disease was a fiction.It never occurred to me that someone close to me would have this disease.The moment I heard the name of the disease, I didn't want to equate the two things at all.
Because, the heroine of the TV series is still dead in the end.
Acute myelogenous leukemia is a disease in which the body cannot produce normal blood, and the specific cause of the disease is unknown.Kurata-senpai has never suffered from any serious illness since he was a child.In fact, the girls in the club also recognized that he was the most energetic, and he had never heard the word "tired" from him.
The only cure is bone marrow transplantation.And not just anyone can do it, blood must be drawn to check the type of white blood cells, and only those with the right type can be transplanted.
In terms of matching rate, parents and brothers have about a quarter, but among others, it is only one in thousands or tens of thousands, and the probability is extremely low.Kurata-senpai's parents, younger brother and his white blood cell types do not match.
The remaining method is to find a suitable donor with a probability of one in thousands or tens of thousands.Haoyi and I separately contacted the students in the dormitory and the members of the mountain club, explained the situation, and asked them to accept the matching check.Probably because Kurata-senpai is very popular, everyone readily agreed, and even those who had just returned to their hometown hurried to the hospital.
Of course, the same goes for Himiko.Himiko and Kurata-senpai are from the same town, and they admire him very much.Because we didn't contact her that day, she lost her temper.
However, there was not a single suitable candidate.
The scope of our call is getting wider and wider, and even the whole school has been mobilized, but we still haven't been able to find a suitable match.
Donors are not the only ones to look for.Blood transfusions are also necessary because the body cannot make normal blood.
Kurata-senpai is type AB.
I am type O, the so-called type that can lose to any blood type.Even though I can't be a donor, I wondered if I could be of help.However, this disease is very complicated, and the doctor said that only people with the same blood type can get it.
Haoyi is also type O, he can't help, very unwilling.
His family's blood also varies.
Four people are needed for a blood transfusion, and it is hard to gather these people around.One of them is Himiko, who is also type AB.
Once a week, in order to infuse healthy blood into Kurata-senpai, she gave up her favorite snacks and started eating meat and vegetables in earnest.On several occasions when there were only three out of four and only three went to donate blood, she even wobbled when she walked.She always said that this was nothing compared to Kurata-senpai's pain, and she never cried out.
It may not be prudent to say this, but I really envy Himiko.
Under the shadow of Kimiko's strong devotion, Koichi and I could do nothing but confide in each other, and the distance between us actually shortened.There's one thing that makes us all feel like we were meant to be together.
Excuse me, I am walking while talking, I am really tired.Shall we talk slowly after we climb up Mt. Sulphur in one go?
The route from Mino Gate to Mt. Iwo only needs to climb up a slope full of trees.But the most exhausting thing is actually talking non-stop.Mr. Maeda said, "I'm just about to take a break too." Only then did I realize that there is a huge difference in physical exertion between thinking about it in my head and speaking it out.
Mr. Maeda apologized for his unreasonable request, and said that he was asked to tell a few stories this time, but I didn't even have the energy to go along with it, so I refused.Drink some water, take a deep breath, and get some oxygen into your head.I silently followed Mr. Maeda, sweating all the way to the top of Mount Iwodake.
Not so much.
The first time I saw Komaweed was at Mt. Iwo, where it was in full bloom on the side of the ridge protruding slightly from the top of the mountain.Although small, it has a piercing deep pink color—the queen of alpine plants, the flower of Kurata-senpai.
The closer you get to the top, the shorter the trees, exposing the uneven rock face.When I came here before, I could see a large group of lovely alpine plants blooming in yellow and white.At that time, I drew them one by one on the notepad, in order to color when I went down the mountain, and I also made careful records, and decided to bring a sketchbook up the mountain next time.
But now I can't even see a single flower.Even the flowers whose flowering period is later than the colt grass have long since disappeared.
"Mr. Maeda, there are no flowers in bloom at all."
I saved a lot of energy by not talking all the way, I said to Mr. Maeda who was walking a few meters in front of me.
"That's not the case."
Mr. Maeda stopped, pointed to the rock and said, "Look." I took a closer look, and there was a yellow gentian flower blooming between the rocks, which is a medicinal gentian.
"It is indeed a flower, but it is an herald of autumn. Is it really possible that the colt grass is still in bloom? Ah, but since it is so rare, please let me draw it."
I have seen this kind of flower in the book, but this is the first time I have actually seen it.
"As expected of a teacher in the painting classroom. I have plenty of time, please feel free."
Mr. Maeda came to another rock, sat down, and took out a cigarette from his coat pocket.
I put down my hiking bag, took out my sketchbook, and began to outline the medicinal gentian.Although the color and shape are quite different, I remembered that the subject flower of the day Kimiko sent the letter was also gentian.Yesterday was cosmos.Because I was in a hurry, I threw the cosmos in the kitchen bucket as soon as I got home.But don't worry, mother will definitely tidy it up.
finished.The color can be put on at the rest place, and it will be fine on the return trip.I closed the sketchbook, and Mr. Maeda was extinguishing a cigarette in the portable ashtray.
"Which one is the best?" Mr. Maeda asked.
"No, I didn't go to American University, but to the English Department of S Women's Short College. This was originally for the convenience of finding a job, but in the end I ended up painting. It's really disrespectful."
As I answered, I carried my hiking bag on my back.Putting the bag that was put down once on the back, it feels at least one and a half times heavier.Soon, however, the summit was reached and the slope became gentler.
"Before I see Komakusa, I still have something to ask you, so let's continue now."
Mr. Maeda said, "Don't push yourself too hard," and started walking.
When I was in elementary school, I won several awards in sketching competitions, but I never thought I was that good at drawing.It was Koichi who encouraged me to continue drawing.
Koichi suggested that he would be happy to carefully draw the alpine plants drawn in the sketchbook during the training camp on special paper and send them to Kurata-senpai.I don't know if he will be really happy, but I am willing to do whatever I can.
At that time, Kurata-senpai had often said that I probably couldn't find any donors.He almost lost hope of survival.So I paint to give him the idea of regaining his health and wanting to climb mountains.Can it be painted not as a painting, but as a living flower?Although this is unreal, can you show the strength to live forever on paper?Picture after picture, I seemed to pour my soul into it.
After the senior received it, he was very happy and said, "I really want to go with you again next summer."
Just one month later, Kurata-senpai passed away.
Until the day before his death, Nozomi insisted on blood transfusions. She hugged Kurata-senpai tightly and burst into tears.More mournful than the cries of the senior's family.She has done so much for her seniors, so she has the right to cry like that.
But I don't have that right.Painting a few pictures is just for my self-satisfaction.That may only make the seniors who have lost hope of survival even more sad.Still, he was so gentle with me till the end, let him worry about me.
I thought so, it must be unbearable to be alone, but I was cunning, and I went to the only person who could listen to me and cried.Haoyi said, I have tried my best, and there is no need to regret it.From that day on, I spent more than half of the time in Koichi's apartment every week.
She also likes Koichi so much, Nozomi, who has always been strong and forbearing, is the one who really needs support.
I was scolded bloody by Kimiko, and even said that I was the worst person to take advantage of Kurata-senpai's condition.She is right.I've always thought only of myself.
However, no matter how much she scolds me, it is impossible for me to break up with Haoyi.I grabbed Kimiko's hand and apologized.No matter what, no matter what I listen to you, you must forgive me for this matter.
A few days before Kurata-senpai fell ill, Kimiko had mentioned this.Koichi is still Kurata's senior, so I'm not allowed to monopolize the two of them and choose one of them.If not, say which of the two of them you want to choose.
Xiaosha was chosen by Koichi, and I accompanied Kurata-senpai to the end.That's the thing, right?
Kimiko said, forgive me.
It's almost here.There are a lot of flowers blooming in front, can you go and have a look?
I couldn't even find the withered horse grass.Is it really just a phantom where there are only rough stones left in the place where the Koma grass bloomed so beautifully?
Kurata-senpai is not here.
What on earth did I come here for?I was exhausted and fell to my knees.
Maeda-san should ask me what's going on, right?But looking back, I realized that he hadn't followed at all.He was already sitting in front of the road sign that said "Top of Mt. Sulphur", lighting a cigarette very leisurely.I didn't believe there would be koma grass here at first.
I ignited my anger, straightened up, and pressed Mr. Maeda.
"Mr. Maeda, are you lying to me? There is no Komagusa anywhere. Not even here, where else?"
"I just proposed to climb Red Mountain. You said you wanted to take this route, but there is no such thing as Sulfur Mountain. You got angry and didn't go in the right direction."
Indeed.Even so, is it absolutely possible to find it in Chiyue?The only thing that can be considered is that there may be koma grass grown in a greenhouse at the rest center near Akadake.However, Komagusa in the greenhouse is not Kurata-senpai.
Do I want to meet Komakusa, or Kurata-senpai?
"If I get to Chiyue and find out that I'm really lying to you, then I will apologize properly."
"Excuse me... Shall we have lunch?"
I put down the hiking bag and took out the rice ball package that my mother asked me to bring.Six triangular rice balls wrapped in aluminum foil, with assorted seasonings written on it.
"Have you tried rice balls from 'Takenoya'?"
"I eat it often. When I go to dinner, I often bring a few suppers to eat."
"What flavor do you like?"
"Salmon, dried bonito, and crepe sansho."
"I like plums, kombu, and butterbur miso. Those are the six."
I handed Mr. Maeda three types of onigiri that he likes.The dishes made by my mother are very delicious, even if it is just a rice ball.I don't want to make my mother sad anymore.That just requires me not to say it.It's just adding a secret, but it's not zero to one, but one to two.
Mr. Maeda finished his onigiri in a blink of an eye, took out the combination cooker and gas burner from his bag, and seemed to be making coffee. "Candy and milk?" he asked me.I put sugar and milk in my coffee, but he only drinks black coffee. Could it be that he brought milk and sugar just for me?
Although there was no need to deliberately apologize, I took out the paper bag containing Kintsu-yaki from my bag and handed one to Maeda-san.Whipped cream - Cosmos is still very unpopular.
"I still have to say I'm sorry, but I'm looking forward to the Komasao of Chiyue. Also, I'm looking forward to the beautiful red leaves, which are so rare. So, can I ask for one more thing?"
"Please say."
The coffee drunk on the mountain is ten times more fragrant than that on the flat ground.It is simply delicious when paired with the Jin Eyaki of "Meixiangtang".
Now, just say it here.
When Kimiko was at the station, she said that Koichi is suffering the same pain as Kurata-senpai now, do you remember?Acute myelogenous leukemia.
I have the same white blood cell type as Koichi.
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