Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Destructive Competition
For Mikiko Kadowaki, this summer is indeed worthy of being called "Youth Festival Day".
She came to Kamikochi with her father to spend the last summer of college life.Normally, summer should go to the seaside, but because the seawater pollution is serious every year, besides, she heard from her classmates that Kamikochi has beautiful scenery, so she wanted to go there very early.
I don't know which nerve was the effect, but her father said to her one day: "Mikiko, you will graduate next spring. This is your last summer of college life. Dad will take you to a fun place!"
Mikiko likes to travel with her father, although at her age it's always a bit embarrassing to go out with him or something.The father understands the delicate psychology of the grown-up daughter very well. When staying in a hotel, he does not live with his daughter, but opens a separate room. When he arrives at a place to play, he always says "now is free time" and lets his daughter play alone.
When traveling with her father, she didn't feel the boredom of being under his guardianship at all, so traveling with him was much happier and more at ease than traveling with those unskilled male guides.
In this sense, the father is the most reliable guide.This is also because so far she has not met a man whose image is better than her father.
Mikiko lost her mother since she was a child, and was raised by her father alone. She often shows her father's subtle influence on her.
"Good place? Where?"
"Kamikochi. You have heard of the name of this mountain. After you get there, you will be amazed that there are such beautiful places in Japan."
Her father readily agreed to take Mikiko to Kamikochi, which she had been looking forward to for a long time, which made Mikiko almost jump for joy.
"But, it won't interfere with Dad's work, right?" Her father, Kadowaki Hideto, is the director of a bureau of the Central Government Office.Although Mikiko didn't know the specific content of his work, she felt that her father was a very busy official, often surrounded by a group of people.
"No matter how busy I am, I can still take summer vacation. Besides, going to Kamikochi is not completely unrelated to work."
Kadowaki's bureau is in charge of national parks, and Kamikochi is the most tourist-attracting national park in the mountainous region of central Japan.
"So, you are away on business?" Mikiko's tone was clearly displeased.She remembered the scene when she was traveling alone with her father when her father was entangled by his subordinates and she was playing alone.Although traveling requires free time, it is too boring to do it all by yourself. Her father, as an official in the ri, travels in his own jurisdiction, and it is difficult to ignore the officials and employees of the lower agencies.
"No, it has nothing to do with work. It's a real vacation. If you don't take the opportunity to travel with you now, after you get married, you should ignore me as a father."
"I will never do that, besides, I don't plan to get married at all now." Mikiko said seriously.She sensed her father's concern.The father did not remarry because of her. For the happiness of his daughter, he endured his own loneliness.
However, as long as her father was in good health, long-term widowhood was not possible.He holds an important position in the province, and there must be all kinds of entertainers from subordinate units around him, so maybe there will be some romantic affairs.
In front of Mikiko, he never showed signs of dating other women.According to this, Mikiko believes that her father is a loyal man. The so-called loyalty refers to the loyalty to his wife, Mikiko's mother and Mikiko.
"I must not let such a good father feel alone for my own happiness." Although Mikiko is an open-minded girl, she rarely associates with young men because of her thinking.She only has her father in her heart.
"No, what if I don't let you get married, wait until I find you the most suitable young man."
"If there is such a person, I will find it myself."
"Ah, you still need to look for it." The father and daughter laughed heartily.
"If we go to Kamikochi, let's go to Mount Hotaka as well," said my father.According to himself, he often went mountain climbing when he was young.
"Mount Hotaka! Is it high?"
"The height is 3190 meters, which is the third in Japan!"
"Oh! It's so high, can you climb it?" Mikiko seemed worried.
"It's absolutely possible. You can climb up from Kamikochi in one day. The road from Kamikochi to Mt. Hotaka is flat, and it can be called the best mountain road in Japan. When you look up at Mt. Hodaka from Kappa Bridge, you will definitely want to see it yourself. I went up." Kadowaki replied confidently.
Kadowaki took five days off in late July.Even though it was the peak summer tourist season, they managed to get a room at the Imperial Hotel in Kamikochi.They thought there was confusion on the night train, so they left Shinjuku on the morning train.When the setting sun reflected on the ridge of Mount Hotaka, Mikiko was standing by the Kappa Bridge.
After coming here, she deeply felt that her father's self-confidence was justified.Hotaka Mountain is like a huge rocky attic towering into the sky. The beautiful sunset glow in summer floats in the sky, and the undulating peaks cut them into jagged shapes.The white snow remaining in the crevices of the rocks is in stark contrast to the dark green creeping pine forest.
The clouds and mist wrapped around the mountainside seem to separate the people on the foothills from the mountains in front of them.
The Azusagawa River flows by the bank where Mikiko is standing. The clear water of the stream is reddish under the glow of the sunset.The stream reflects the mountains and the blue sky, as well as the lush trees on both banks.
The forest is almost dark green, and the trunks of the birch forest are dotted with it, which looks extraordinarily white in the dark green bushes.
With Mt. Hotaka at the center, the mountains surrounding the valley stand upright like partitions made of rocks.Perhaps it is the unparalleled scale of the sky and the earth itself, but the sky above the valley still gives people a sense of immensity.
Kappa Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Azusagawa River.Men and women dressed in urban fashion come and go on the bridge in an endless stream.Including Mikiko, these people promoted the vulgarization of nature and disturbed the elegance and tranquility of the riverside environment.
However, the mountains here seem to have a broad heart that embraces everything.After a day of exposure to the scorching sun in midsummer, Mount Hodaka standing steeply in the sunset looks extraordinarily majestic, as if it is the only peak in the Northern Alps.
The valley in the evening is no longer a closed holy place, it is bustling with people, filled with a vibrant holiday atmosphere.
"How is it, Mikiko?" Kadowaki asked, looking at his daughter with relief.
"Excellent!" she replied excitedly.
"This is just part of the beauty of Kamikochi. Rainy and foggy days, the mountains will become more mysterious and interesting. Depending on the time and season, the scenery is also varied."
"Great!" With Mikiko's poor vocabulary, it is impossible to describe the beautiful scenery here.In fact, I am afraid that it is difficult to accurately describe this beautiful scenery with any words.
"Let's take a closer look at this area tomorrow, and I'll take you to Mount Hotaka the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, you must take me there!"
"Mt. Hodaka looks quite steep, but if you go to climb it yourself, you will be surprised that it is not extremely difficult and dangerous."
"Can I also climb to the top of the mountain?" Mikiko was not sure whether she could climb Mount Hotaka.It's not that she doesn't believe in her physical strength, but that Mt. Hotaka is not a place for everyone to step into.
"Of course I can climb up, and it's okay to walk slowly. You can reach Hodaka Mountain Villa on the first day, and you can reach the top of the mountain before noon on the second day."
Mikiko imagined herself standing on the peak of Mount Hotaka, and couldn't help being fascinated.Looking at the burning clouds rolling over the ridges of the mountains, she thought, how happy those people on Mount Hotaka must be at this moment!
Back at the hotel, the father and daughter washed up briefly and then came to the restaurant.
Mikiko looked at the menu with her father, and suddenly felt someone staring at her.
"What's wrong?" Kadowaki asked, taking his eyes off the menu.
"It looks like someone is watching me..."
"You, you always attract attention." Kadowaki said casually.
Mikiko looks exactly like her mother, no matter the soft melon-seeded face or the shining eyes, they are no less than her mother back then.Because of the loss of her mother since she was young, there is still a touch of sadness in her eyes from time to time.This charming and melancholy look has a unique charm that always attracts men's eyes.The outstanding Mikiko is the pride of Kadowaki Hideto.
"Hate!"
As the waiter was still waiting for their order, Mikiko turned around slightly.At this time, a few people suddenly stood up from a table not far away and walked over.
"Boss, it's really rare to see you!"
"I heard that you and your daughter are out on a trip. I never expected to see you here."
"If there is no hindrance, can we be allowed to have dinner with the director?"
The people who struck up a conversation were several young people in their twenties and eighteen years old who wore beautiful and well-fitting suits.
"Why, are you guys going on a trip too?" Kadowaki was very surprised, and he often had this expression when he met acquaintances during the trip.
"Director, this is our jurisdiction, and this hotel is like our company's summer hostel." said the slender young man who was the first to speak to him just now.
"Could it be that you all came here to chase me?" Kadowaki began to feel alert.
"No, no! We don't intend to disturb your private vacation at all." The second muscular young man who spoke up quickly shook his hand in denial.
"It's about the same. I hope you don't talk about work with me here. I'm here on vacation with my daughter." Kadowaki warned.
Judging from his tone, these young people seemed to have work contacts with the Park Bureau under the jurisdiction of Kadowaki.Are they here on vacation?How did it happen that the three of them were on vacation together?This is somewhat strange.
Perhaps, as Kadowaki said, they followed him.Kadowaki was often pestered by some people when he went out, that's why he told him so.
"We also met here by chance. Although the few of us are usually competitors, we still reconcile and get along with each other when we travel. Just as we were having dinner, I saw the director." young people explained.
When the officials of the higher-level government office took the "Secret Lady" out for fun, people from the subordinate agencies who were taboo came forward to talk.The reason these people started talking was because they knew that Mikiko was Kadowaki's daughter.But Mikiko doesn't know who they are.
Kadowaki didn't want to introduce them to his daughter, he felt that these unsolicited people spoiled the enjoyment of the dinner he was about to have with his daughter.
"Are you Miss? It's the first time we meet. My name is Yumiba Hisahiko." Seeing that Kadowaki was not going to introduce them, the tall and thin young man took the initiative to announce his name and handed over a business card.
"I'm Hiroshi Kuni."
"My name is Junya Murakoshi."
Athletic people and people of medium build are not far behind handing over business cards.Their appearance was so funny that Mikiko couldn't help laughing.
Kadowaki has always been accommodating to Mikiko, and Mikiko's smile eased the tense atmosphere at that time.
Thinking about it carefully, for a girl, eating with a young man full of youthful vitality will be more cheerful than eating with an elderly father.
"If you want, please come here." Kadowaki said reluctantly.
"Oh, okay?" The young man was taken aback by the sudden change in Kadowaki's attitude.
"As long as I don't disturb you..."
"Where?"
"We are honored."
"In the past, I only heard that your daughter-in-law is very beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be so beautiful."
"Oh! The honor you speak of refers to my daughter!"
"As you said."
Kadowaki also seemed to be quite pleased with this disgusting flattery.He is like a strict parent in the bureau, but when it comes to Mikiko, he becomes easy-going.
"Okay, with such a loud voice, I'm not afraid of being heard." Mikiko said with a blushing face, but she obviously didn't blush because the young man said she was beautiful.
These three young people do not work in the same company, but they were members of the traveling club of the same university when they were students.They have come to Kamikochi many times, and they have climbed almost all the mountains nearby, and they are more familiar with Kamikochi than Kadowaki.
In just one day, Mikiko became acquainted with them. She asked them: "You used to be in the same department of the same university, but now you each work for different and hostile companies. It's too coincidental, isn't it?"
"No, it's our luck."
"Hateful fortune."
"This is the mockery of fate. No, perhaps it should be said that it is the cruelty of fate." The eyes of the three met together, as if sparks were sparking.The hostility hidden between them is about to explode.
When Mikiko noticed the sudden tense atmosphere, soft smiles appeared on the faces of the three of them.
"Well, although we have become competitors now, after all, we have been classmates for several years, so there is still friendship, huh?"
"It's really unpredictable!"
"But when you ate, you ate the most."
They joked with each other.Mikiko thought, it was probably her own illusion just now.
The next day, the three of them went for a walk around Kamikochi with them.
On this day, they wandered around Tashiro Pond and Mount Yakedake together, and planned to climb Mount Hotaka the next day.
The three young people naturally put forward the request of peers.
"Don't you have your own plans?" Kadowaki hesitated.He thought it would take at least two days to climb Mt.During a small employee's vacation, two days are precious, not to mention that Mikiko walks slowly, and it may take more time.
"No, we also came here because we wanted to climb Mt. Hotaka."
"Since we've come to Kamikochi, we don't want to retreat without climbing Mt. Hotaka."
"Just let us go together!"
For Mikiko, it is of course great that they can travel together.So, in the end, it was decided that they would go together.
That very night, Kadowaki's plans changed.What happened was this: when they were resting in the lobby after dinner, he received a call from Tokyo, saying that there was an urgent business negotiation and he needed to go back to deal with it.
"It's not easy!" Kadowaki looked at her daughter and said embarrassedly, "I can't climb the mountain tomorrow. There is an urgent matter in the province. I have to go back no matter what."
"Do you think this will work, Chief," Yumiba interrupted, "We will guide the young lady."
"We must be responsible." Kuni and Murakoshi continued his words.
"Yes." Kadowaki's answer was ambiguous.Although these three youths had more experience in mountaineering than Kadowaki, they were all bachelors.Kadowaki wonders if it's appropriate to hand Mikiko over to them.
"Father, I, I want to go." Mikiko's words dispelled the last hesitation in his heart.
"Then, I will ask the three of you."
"Please rest assured."
"Maybe Ling'ai also likes to climb mountains with us."
"Oh!"
Early the next morning, Kadowaki and his daughter walked out of the hotel together.Kadowaki is going to catch the special express train from Matsumoto City, and Mikiko is going to climb Mount Hodaka, which is more than 1,000 meters above the ground.
Mount Hodaka is hidden behind the hotel, only the top of the mountain is exposed, which is dyed a faint red by the morning glow.The sky was clear, and the mist hovering over the Azusagawa River and the woods on both banks was constantly floating, as if trying to suppress the rising sun, presenting a beautiful scene before sunrise.
"I'm going, pay more attention."
"Father should take care more." Mikiko smiled beamingly with her back to Hodakayama.Kadowaki suddenly felt a youthful charm in her, even though she was his own daughter.
In this way, Kadowaki entrusted his daughter to the three young men with great anxiety, and returned to Tokyo by himself.
All three sightseeing companies have applied to the Welfare Province National Park Bureau for new construction works in the national park in the central mountainous area.The project they applied for construction was not an ordinary building, but a cableway or cableway to be erected to the famous mountain in the central mountainous area - Gundake Mountain.
First, the "Teikyu Tourist Company", which has a large-scale business network in the western suburbs of Tokyo, proposed a plan to lay cable lanes.The company is a comprehensive tourism company developed from the original "Teikyu Corporation" as the core.The construction route they proposed is to go up the Takase River, start from Yumata Hot Spring, and build a cableway along Tianjingzawa to Dongkashan Mountain (a branch of Gundake Mountain) on the east side of Gundake Mountain.
Next, Seikyu Corporation, which has a service network in the Kansai area and operates department stores at major railway terminals, proposed a comprehensive development plan for the Northern Alps.Their plan is to build a cableway from the mountain plain upstream of Shinhotaka Onsen on the Gifu side to the top of Mt. Gundake.If the plan comes to fruition, it will be the longest ropeway in the world.
In addition, the car company "Chutai Kogyo", which occupies most of the sightseeing spots in the central part and the western part of Kanto, proposed to extend the original Kamikochi car route to Gundake.The scale of this plan is no less than the scale of the plans proposed by the previous two.
With the rapid development of the post-war economy, the national entertainment industry also tends to be large-scale, entering the era of mass tourism.Especially in May—the golden season for sightseeing—20 million people travel abroad, and 100 billion yen in currency circulates.
Among the limited kinds of recreational activities, the most varied is travel.The development of tourism has caused the rapid turnover of money.In the past, people only regarded travel as "going to the mountains and sightseeing", but now this incomplete view no longer exists. People regard travel and vacation as meaningful activities and actively participate in them.
People often like to travel to national parks, especially to the Chubu Mountains, which include almost all the famous mountains in Japan.
According to estimates, about 10 million to 12 million people participate in mountaineering activities each year, of which more than 1 million people are concentrated in the Alps in summer.However, mountaineering is a physical activity that can only be participated by those who are physically strong, and not all people can participate.
There must be a lot of people who love this activity, but look at the mountains and sigh because of poor physical strength.When those girls and old people who have never climbed a mountain due to lack of physical strength or inconvenient legs and feet, take a cable car or car to the top of the mountain for the first time, stand on the majestic mountain top and enjoy the various shapes of the surrounding mountains, so they are immersed in the experience that they have never experienced before. The impact of these developments can be imagined when you are in the midst of joy.
Everyone knows that mountain scenery is beautiful, so anyone but a young child is likely to climb a mountain.
Therefore, no matter how people cry out that nature has been destroyed, no matter how literati and local people object, all kinds of mechanical equipment still break into the depths of nature step by step with unstoppable force.
Gundake embodies the characteristics of the central mountain range known as the Japan Alps.It is 3,180 meters above sea level, and its steep peaks are shaped like the tip of a spear, stimulating people's desire to climb.
Although it attracts tourists, it is a steep mountain of more than 3,000 meters, the highest in the Alps, so not everyone can easily climb it.
The same is true.The vast majority of people who come to Kamikochi for sightseeing can only stand on the Kappa Bridge and look at Mount Hotaka, disappointed.
If the bus, ropeway car, or cable car can pass Gundake, tourists who have stopped at Kamikochi can go up the mountain.
Not only that, if you can reach the top of the mountain with the help of means of transportation, many people who want to climb the mountain but are unable to do so can get their wish.
Building a formal hotel on the top of the mountain and running the cable car all year round can attract many tourists from all over Japan, making this unique "tourist resource" no longer monopolized by the strong and experienced mountaineers.
The three sightseeing companies took a fancy to Mt. Gundake almost at the same time. In their application reports, they cited the Swiss mountain railway as an example:
"The entry of modern machinery into nature does not necessarily lead to the destruction of nature. It can be said that it is precisely because of the role of modern machinery that those ordinary people who strongly yearn for the beautiful nature but cannot visit it due to lack of physical strength I got my wish. The surrounding scenery of Mt. Gundake is beautiful, and it would be unfair to let the climbers with good physical strength and experience alone monopolize it.
"The Uk-Flau railway in Switzerland not only did not pollute the mountainous area, but also improved the international reputation of the Swiss tourist mountain area and became an important source of foreign exchange for Switzerland. We cannot simply start from the narrow point of view of protecting the original state of nature and bury it. It is a valuable tourist resource, but it should be developed more extensively. Based on this point, we hereby request the approval of the construction plan.”
The reasons they cited are very good, and there are two schools of thought on this application in the province.The reasons for the faction are roughly the same as those of the three companies.The opposition vehemently refuted it, arguing that:
"Although people have the same right to enjoy nature, they should not be allowed to destroy nature in the name of developing tourism. If the ecological environment is destroyed for fun, nature will become deformed. The reason why some places still have beautiful scenery is precisely because Those places are off the beaten track."
"The plan goes beyond developing tourism."
As soon as the plans of the three companies were disclosed to the outside world, they were immediately opposed by the Nature Conservation Association, the Japanese Academic Association, cultural groups, the local hotel industry federation, the self-employed federation, various mountaineering groups and some insightful people.
The starting points of these opposition groups are different. For example, the Nature Conservancy and people of insight are worried about the destruction of the natural scenery of the country, while the relevant local groups are afraid that their jobs will be ruined.But they are unanimous in their vehement opposition.
In the face of opposition from various factions, the three companies contributed funds and found someone to lobby on their behalf, putting pressure on the National Park Bureau of the Welfare Province.But the Ministry of Welfare is also difficult to make a decision.No matter whether the Ministry of Welfare permits the development or not, it must give reasonable reasons.In addition, the business license rights of these three companies belong to the jurisdiction of the Land Transportation Bureau, and the Ministry of Welfare must fully consider their opinions, and must obtain the permission of the county governor of the development site.
To protect the natural scenery in national parks, the government enacted the Natural Park Act.The law divides natural landscapes into three types, namely key protected areas, special areas and ordinary areas.In key protected areas, the original state of nature is well protected.In the special area, various systems are strictly regulated according to the Nature Conservation Park Law.
Most of the areas proposed by the three companies for development are special areas and key protected areas.Based on these circumstances, even if the development is allowed, it can only be selected from the plans of the three companies.
The three companies, which have formed a united front against the opposition, will once again compete fiercely over licensing rights.
The Ministry of Welfare decided to focus on the National Park Bureau, and then hired some experienced personnel from other departments to form a deliberation committee to carefully review the plans of each company.The director of the National Park Bureau, Kadowaki Hideto, is in charge of the decision-making power of the plan. He is responsible for unifying the opinions of the review committee and answering the minister's questions.He can even influence the passage of plans.
In order to get close to Kadowaki, the three companies racked their brains, but Kadowaki was very aware of his pivotal position, never revealed his views, and adopted an impartial attitude.
In order to overcome the barrier of Kadowaki, the three companies sent their own staff, all of whom were young and capable employees. "Teiji" sent Hisahiko Yumiba; Shun also.
Unexpectedly, these three people are classmates of the Department of Economics of Dongdu University, friends who have eaten together, and members of the same youth hiking club.Now, the three are working in different companies. For huge business interests, they fight hand to hand and start a fierce battle.This fully demonstrates the cruelty of society.
Kadowaki Mikiko returned from the mountain, as if the heat in her body had been dissipated after getting out of the bath, she enjoyed the aftertaste of mountaineering for a long time.
It was the first time in her life to climb a mountain of more than 3,000 meters. Because of this, the mountain strongly attracted her.She is also very satisfied with the three youth guides.Mikiko has always loved sports and was a tennis player in high school, but she has never climbed such a high mountain.When climbing the mountain, three young men took care of her and led her along at a steady pace.They are familiar with the history and common sense of the mountain, and they are not only interested in mountain climbing like some men.They kept telling Mikiko the name of each mountain and the names of the plants they encountered during the mountaineering.
Relying on their advice, through this trip, Mikiko also gained a lot of natural knowledge about Mount Hodaka.
She felt that the moments she spent on the top of Mt. Hotaka were like being in another world.There, pure sunlight, like an unobstructed waterfall, rushes down thousands of miles and fills the space.Sitting on the corner of the highest rock on the mountain, you can look out at the unfathomable blue sky and the platinum shining cumulus clouds on the horizon.The rolling mountains in the distance are lavender; the steep silver-gray rock walls nearby are colorfully decorated by green creeping pine and white snow.
At that time, the three young people were smoking cigarettes silently and staring into the distance.Mikiko felt that they were like men, and the life of father and daughter in the past naturally separated her from the vigorous young people.This mountaineering was the first time for her to directly approach a man with a manly air.
Perhaps because of her father's body with little body surface secretion, Mikiko hates the body odor of the opposite sex, thinking that it is similar to the smell of animals.On the tram, if she smelled the alcohol on a drunk, she would almost throw up on the spot.
The three young men all smoked and drank alcohol. When they returned to Kamikochi from Mount Hodaka, they drank up all the beer and drank a lot of whiskey.
On several of them, the body odor of a man is very strong.For this, Mikiko didn't feel disgusted as usual, but felt refreshed.I remember that when they were resting on the top of the mountain, the sweat smell from the three of them drifted towards Mikiko with the breeze, and that sweat smell was exactly the man's body odor.
Mikiko has a very good impression of these three people, and it hasn't changed after returning to Tokyo.Thus, Mikiko started dating three young people.
A girl who is dating three men at the same time will not always maintain a balanced attitude.If she is not aware of gender differences, perhaps the balance can still be maintained, but it is almost impossible for young men and women to be unaware of the temptation of the opposite sex.
Soon, no!Soon, the three men started a fierce competition because of Mikiko.
"Mikiko, are you still dating those three people?" Kadowaki asked nonchalantly after breakfast on Sunday.
Mikiko immediately realized who the three people her father mentioned were, but she still deliberately asked: "Which three people?" She deliberately asked back not because she felt that she had done something wrong, but because she felt a little shy.
"Yumiba, Kuni, and Murakoshi." Kadowaki still spoke nonchalantly.Maybe he thought that Mikiko was at the sensitive age, and it was better not to stimulate her too much, so he adopted this tone.
"Ah, Yumiba and the others, I often see them." Mikiko tried her best to pretend not to care, but her voice was still trembling.Her relationship with one of them had grown beyond ordinary interaction, and there was a hint of tension in her voice.
"What do you think?"
"How is it? Hmm - I don't think so..." Mikiko didn't know how to reply to her father who was calmly probing.She hadn't intended to hide her relationship with the three youths from her father, but the recent deviant behavior made it inconvenient for her to open her heart to her father.
The so-called "deviant behavior" did not exceed the most critical boundary, she only allowed the other party's kiss.Even so, it is quite embarrassing for a virgin in first love to do such a thing.
Although today's society is a fairly open society for men and women to communicate, for Mikiko who grew up in a normal environment, kissing is still an important and shameful part of love, at least she has no face to tell her father "I kissed a man".
For this reason, she kept the secret from her father invisibly.Kadowaki sensed it sensitively, and asked tentatively, "Among the three, you must like one more?"
"Hmm...it's nothing special...Really, you suddenly mentioned this..." Mikiko blushed, as if her father already knew about the kissing.Kadowaki ignored her and continued:
"If you have a special affection for any of these three people, please tell me." Listening to Kadowaki's tone, it seemed that he didn't like those three young people.
"Marriage is a major event in your life, and you need to do in-depth investigation and understanding. For example, genetic problems that are not visible on the outside, private life secrets that others don't know, and personality defects that have not been exposed to outsiders may exist."
"I won't tell you that, I have no intention of getting married!"
"You don't plan, it doesn't mean the other party doesn't plan either. You will be 23 next year, not long before the age of marriage!"
"But anyway, I don't want to get married as soon as I graduate."
"Your mother was 21 when she got married."
"The times are different. The age of marriage for women is being pushed back. Women are already financially independent and don't want to be bound by marriage."
"Okay. Anyway, marriage is a major event in a woman's life. I hope you will not be rash."
Kadowaki ended the conversation.According to Mikiko's attitude, he sees that now is not the time to break the casserole and ask the bottom line.In fact, even if he asked further, she would not answer.
Mikiko nodded, thanking her father.She swore to herself that she would never let her father worry about her.
As Kadowaki said, just because you have no intention of getting married doesn't mean the other party doesn't either.In fact, a few days ago, the three of them had proposed to Mikiko one after another.
The first one is Kuni Hiroshi.Kunihiro invited Mikiko to watch an orchestra performance that day.It was a highly skilled European band that often came to Japan to perform.After the performance, Kuni takes her home and kisses her without her consent on the way.
Now Mikiko chooses among the three young people with a subtle psychology.She didn't have the power to refuse the other party's kiss, and Kunii took advantage of her indecision to kiss her.Within a few days, he asked Mikiko to marry him.
After Kuni proposed, Yumiba and Murakoshi proposed one after another as if they were afraid of falling behind.Mikiko was in a dilemma.She is a modern woman who understands in her heart that it is impossible for a woman to get along with three energetic men in a "brother-sister relationship" for a long time.
She knew very well that the three young men were falling in love with her more and more, and she had to make a choice.
Kuni's behavior happened before she made her final decision.Later, she quickly got close to Guojing, not because of that kiss with Guojing, but because she remembered a sentence from her predecessors:
——When you hesitate, you choose the most enthusiastic person.
The three have their own characteristics, and Guojing is the most prominent in terms of enthusiasm.Although Yumiba and Murakoshi are also enthusiastic, they are not as expressive as Kuni, and enthusiastic words and deeds at this time are most conducive to gaining favor.
Kuni is the most masculine among the three, with thick features and big eyes, a strong physique, and always moves with momentum.It was he who kissed Mikiko in the first place.
Although Mikiko has the deepest impression on Kuni, it is still difficult for Mikiko to make up her mind to combine with him.Because she found Kuni to have a startling brutishness, though not often.
For example, when picking up things from the hotel's luggage storage, he knocked on the calculator with a pick-up card and greeted the waiter; when changing change at a small shop at the station, he threw the money impolitely to the salesperson.
He is kind and gentle to Mikiko, but he is inconsiderate and ruthless to those who have no interest, especially those of low status, which makes Mikiko hesitate.
Hisahiko Yumiba is almost the exact opposite of Kuni.Physically speaking, Guojing is full of muscles, with edges and corners, while Gongchang is thin and full of bones.Yumiba has a high nose bridge, small eyes, thin lips, and a very conspicuous mole under his right ear.Viewed from the side, his face is well-curved and his broad forehead symbolizes his intelligence. The distance between his eyebrows and eyes is very close, sometimes giving people a feeling of shabby.But in terms of looks, he was the prettiest of the three, and Mikiko liked the emptiness and melancholy that filled his entire face.
Murakashi Junya has the most ordinary appearance among the three. He is neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short. He looks honest and wears ordinary clothes. He always wears a tie neatly on top of his white shirt.Murako didn't impress her deeply, but she felt that he was the most down-to-earth.During that mountaineering, whenever he encountered an intersection, even if the direction was obvious, he would go to explore the way first.This fully shows that he is a down-to-earth person.
Mikiko thinks that as a traveling companion, Mura is not as chic as Yugenba, but as a lifelong companion, he may be more suitable.
Murakoshi doesn't have the obvious shortcomings of Kuni and Yumba, and whatever he is asked to do, he does it impeccably, safely and reliably.But Mikiko thinks that what has no flaws is itself a flaw.
"I, I may be asking too much." She thought about the strengths and weaknesses of the three young people, and at the same time reminded herself to pay attention.
These three youths are the best among their peers.Although Mikiko hasn't fully understood their family relationship, these three people are indeed senior employees who graduated from first-class universities and work in first-class companies.
"I don't even look at myself, I only pick on the other party's faults." Mikiko thought with a face of shame, and suddenly realized something: "Did those people really love me before they proposed to me? Is it because of work? The problem, do you want to follow the father's footsteps?"
"If that's the case, wouldn't I be their stepping stone."
"I have to get this straight," Mikiko thought.
“国井可是个冷酷无情的人啊！”弓场像是自言自语地说道。
美纪子和弓场的这次会面与上次相隔了相当长的一段时间。自从国井吻了她之后，不知为什么她难得和弓场、村越见上一面。
她尚未答复他俩的求婚，这也是造成他们难得见面的因素之一。当然她与国井的相会次数在与日俱增。国井在第一次接吻获胜之后，便得寸进尺，每次见面都吻美纪子。
美纪子无法拒绝他的亲吻，国井的收获迅速增多。可是男子的欲望不会总停留在女方的嘴唇上，一天，他向美纪子提出了最关键性的要求。他说如果两个人相爱，即便没结婚也应该允诺对方的要求。
美纪子也有和国井相同的想法。她认为结婚不过是一种形式，或者可以把它看作是施加给那些朝三暮四的男女们的制约。
美纪子凭她那种极平凡的现代女子的观点，觉得给爱情加以制约的做法太无聊，所以她不打算在结婚之前把女性的关键部位作为拴住人的诱饵，像保护珍宝那样保护自己的贞节。
她认为如果真遇到了心爱的人，自己可以把一切都献给他，结不结婚倒没关系。至于她拒绝了国井的要求，也许是因为在她心底依然残留着对国井的不信赖。
也许……连她自己都不清楚怎么会有这种也许，只是她的感觉时常执拗地唤起她对国井的不信任。
“你喜欢的真是我吗？”美纪子曾这样问过国井。国井觉得她的本意是说：“你是不是因为父亲的地位才接近我？”他气得满脸通红。那种气愤的样子装是装不出来的。
但是美纪子的本意并非国井所想的。她只想问问，“那种固执地沉积在心底的不信任感的原因到底是什么？”可是她又不能问，而且无法问。再说就是问了国井，国井也不好回答。
“你为什么不答应我呢？”国井痛苦地问她。若美纪子明确地宣布不喜欢他，拒绝和他交往也就罢了，可是美纪子明显地倾心于他，而又不同意将自己全部给他。
既然美纪子抱这样的态度，国井便要求与她早点结婚。美纪子对此没给予明确的答复，其实至今她对国井求婚的反应依然是模棱两可的。但在国井的缠逼下，她不断地缩小着与他的距离。
新的一年到来了，美纪子即将毕业，她觉得这样下去，自己不久就会屈服于国井的热情。
不知道是不是由于美纪子和国井的关系比另外两个密切的缘故，国井和门胁的接触也像比从前频繁了。
美纪子了解到三个人所在的公司分别向父亲的管辖局提出了申请，父亲对国井所在公司的申请尤为感兴趣。
美纪子知道父亲不是那种公私不分的人。她对父亲能够在工作上给予国井特别的关照而感到高兴。因为这标志着父亲对他俩关系的态度正趋于好转。
“我是不是真的要跟国井结婚呢？”这种想法老是在她心中萦绕，然而在这想法之中，还隐隐约约地存在着某种不安。这说明美纪子对国井的为人还有所担心。
“要不我把国井的事跟父亲说说吧。”
“不，既然是父亲，他也许早就知道了。”美纪子想。就在这一紧要关头，她从弓场那里听到了一件有关国井的重大事情。
那天她赴弓场之约，本想告诉他自己已经打算和国井结婚。
“国井可是个冷酷无情的人啊！”这话虽然是弓场自言自语，但美纪子还是听得清清楚楚。
“这，这是什么意思？”
“不，还是不说吧，因为说出来有损于朋友。”
“既然你都露出了话头，又不说完，你太狡猾了。请告诉我吧，我正想就国井作出重大决定呢。”
“重大决定？难道你想接受他的求婚吗？”弓场的脸色都变了。他们三个人已知道彼此向美纪子求婚的事。
“我想先听你说。”美纪子直盯着弓场的脸。他们俩约会的地点是美纪子所在大学附近的一家咖啡店。弓场的时间比较自由，为照顾美纪子，约她在这里会面。
“如果你想和国井订婚，我请你务必断绝此念，他是个非常危险的人物。”
“为什么？他——危险？”
男女约会的温馨气氛这时已荡然无存。美纪子最初可不是怀着紧张的心情来赴约的。
“那么，为了使你免于不幸，对你实说了吧。”弓场呷了一口咖啡。
“实际上国井已经和我妹妹有了婚约。”
“啊！”美纪子顿时愕然。她第一次听说弓场有妹妹，而且他的妹妹又同国井订了婚，这使她十分震惊。美纪子感到就像挨了当头一棒似的。
“这是真的吗？”片刻之后，美纪子强打精神问道，说话声都不像她的了。
“这种事我不会说谎。”
“那么，你妹妹现在怎么样了？”
"died."
"died?"
“是的，是被害死的，凶手是国井。”
“这怎么可能！”美纪子像小孩一样摇晃着脑袋，不肯相信。
弓场说，大约三年前的一天，国井和妹妹住在市中心的高层旅馆。半夜里旅馆失火，两人无法逃出去，被大火撵到了楼顶平台。直升飞机前来营救，他们像串珠一般悬吊在飞机的软梯上，还没等飞机着陆，妹妹一个人掉了下来。倘若弓场讲的是事实，那么这件事太骇人听闻了。
“妹妹一个人掉下来摔死了，你知道这意味着什么吗？它说明妹妹是被国井给抖下来的。”
“这不可能！是不是你妹妹腕子没劲儿，没能坚持到地面呢？”美纪子不自觉地替国井辩护起来。
“不，肯定是被抖掉的。你想想，两个人像串珠似地吊在直升飞机的悬梯上，妹妹手抓着国井的脚，国井支持不住两个人的体重就把妹妹抖掉了。”
“有证人吗？”
“许多人都目睹了妹妹的坠落，但是因为飞机离地面还有一段距离，又是晚上，所以没人看清抖落的情景。”
“既然如此，我们也就不能下结论说就是被枓掉的。”
“不，我很了解他的为人。他这个人，只要对自己有利，什么事都干得出来。”
“单凭自己的臆测……”美纪子话刚出口，突然感到心头一颤。
她想，执坳地存在于自己心底的那种对国井的不信任，难道也是臆测吗？是不是他那些潜藏起来的阴暗面，常常给女子本能的自卫“天线”传来危险的信号，使自己虽不断接近他，而又不能完全信赖他呢？
弓场好像看透了美纪子内心的动摇，他说：“国井是在妹妹的上面，这没什么可争议的。如果他松了手，他自己也会坠落下来。请你好好考虑考虑这一事实，他和妹妹一起逃到平台，但却先于妹妹爬上梯子，也就是说他见死不救，只顾自己逃命。妹妹被留在平台上，慌忙之中抓住了国井的脚。这不足以说明他是一个极端利己主义者吗？国井在烈火中甩掉了妹妹……”
“别说了……”美纪子打断了弓场的话，她再也听不下去了。她知道弓场讲的是真的，否则他不会讲得如此具体。
弓场讲的是自己的妹妹，他的话具有绝对的说服力，他不会撒这种谎。美纪子没和弓场道别，便掩面跑出咖啡店。
一个女子和一个男子悬在空中，女的被男的抖掉了，而另一个女子正想把今后的一生全部托付给这个男子。可以想象，这对于她——一个初次恋爱的少女是多么沉重的打击。
福利省的“枪岳开发计划审议会”开始逐步确定审议方针，以便研究三家公司提出的申请。
当初，反对派和赞成派势均力敌，现在赞成派人数逐渐增多。
在进入积极地把“欣赏娱乐”推向“参加娱乐”的大众娱乐时代的社会背景下，赞成派提出“穿着西服坐小车登山”的诱人的口号，顽强地推行着开发计划。他们的行动犹如压路机一样辗轧着坚持保护大自然的反对派。
反对派则动员了广播、宣传界和其他各界的有识之士以及各文化团体，打算重整旗鼓再次较量。但是在利欲熏心的大资本家面前，在无情的机械文明的怒涛面前，他们不过是螳臂挡车而已。
反对派的主张是正确的，任何人都会说破坏自然不好。在开发观光的名义下不断破坏大自然，只会是自讨苦吃，终归丧失掉大自然。
大自然一旦遭到破坏，便难以恢复。机械文明越发达，人们越发感到大自然的可贵。绿色的群山、啼啭的小鸟、清澈的溪流、常年积雪的山峰，茂密的原始森林和高山植物，正是这些大自然的气息使人们健康地生存，并陶冶着人们的情操。
必须保护大自然——这意见完全正确。但是反对派没钱，而钱是办事成败的关键。没经济后盾的反对派发表一通感人肺腑的议论，结果仅此而已。
反对派的正确意见终归会获得广泛的支持。不过，那将是在大自然被糟踏得破烂不堪之后，人们看清这点已为时过晚了。当时审议会的大多数成员同意开发，但他们不同意三家公司全都参加开发，即使同意开发也准备只采取消极的支持态度，以此来表白他们最起码的理智。
审议会的绝大多数人支持中台兴业。帝急和西急的方案是新铺设长长的电缆车道或索道，而中台只是把已经通到上高地的公共汽车路线延长到枪岳。他们单纯地认为“延长”原有线路总比“新铺”线路对自然界的破坏小一些。
中台方案的另一个好处是有伸缩性，可以把申请书中的“路线延长至枪岳上半部”的计划改为缩短到枪泽下端。
现在小型车可以驶到明神附近，摩托车可以开到横尾。将来即便公共汽车只通到枪泽，仍然能吸引到上高地游览的绝大部分游客。
但若“缩短”另外两家公司的线路，那么线路的利用价值就会大减，甚至几乎为零。
要想把观光的游人从中部山岳的圣地——上高地引向枪岳，非要打出“游人乘车可达枪岳山”这张王牌不可，但帝急和西急的方案无伸缩性，不及中台方案。
虽然审议会的大多数人支持中台方案，但门胁秀人会长却不满意这个方案。他的理由是：上高地已经俗不可耐，如果汽车再从上高地通到枪泽，那么枪岳和穂高也一定会很快地变得俗气起来，其速度会像堤坝决口一样快。他推荐西急方案。He said:
“到上高地游玩的人和到飞騨山脉穗高山附近的蒲田川溪谷游玩的人在数量上相差悬殊。这是因为到上高地可以从东京或大阪乘中央线的火车直接柢达，到飞騨则必须经由高山线，这给旅行带来了不方便，因此影响了游人的兴致。另外，现在公共汽车已通到蒲田川溪谷，从这里敷设索道到枪岳，没有多远。再说即便到了索道，从飞騨方向来枪岳的人数也是有限的，不会像从上高地方向来的那么多。
“帝急方案的施工路线过长。这还不算，现在的公共汽车虽然已从大町通到七仓，可是想乘电缆车去枪岳的游客必须从七仓出发，沿高濑川行走四至五小时的山路才能到汤俣温泉。帝急的缆车路线是以汤俣为起点，东镰为终点，因而在未架索道之前必须先沟通七仓和汤俣。
“西急方案的起点蒲田川的建设速度很快，但高濑川方面还无声无息。我们不能把帝急方案与起点已有公共汽车的西急方案相提并论。从保护自然和防止俗化的观点出发，西急方案最为完善。”
虽然审议会的大多数成员倾向于中台方案，但门胁既是会长，又在多年工作中卓有成效，他的意见很可能在审议会里产生相当大的影响，从而改变原有力量的对比。
Notes:
Notes: