Chapter 9 Section 9

On Naoko's first day at school, it began to rain lightly from the morning.Standing in the doorway, she hesitated whether to put on her boots or not. "It's fine to wear sneakers. It doesn't seem to be raining too much." Heisuke said behind her. "But the weather forecast said that there will be big rain in the afternoon. In that case, the sneakers will be covered with mud. This pair of sneakers was bought last month. Sami Nami also said that she will not wear them until the sixth grade begins. Keep it this new," Naoko said, holding the brand new sneakers in her hands.

Hirasuke opened the door and looked at the sky. "But it doesn't look like the weather to wear boots on." "It's too late to wear it when you get older. Alright, I've already decided, it's better to wear boots." After speaking, she took out the boots from the shoe box.They were red rubber boots with a white line at the cuff.The boots were won by Naoko in a lottery at the supermarket. "Is this the pair of boots you're talking about?" "Yes." "Wouldn't it be nice to wear this pair to school?" "why?" "Because Sami Nami said that these boots are too rustic and she doesn't want to wear them."

"I know. But it's a pity not to wear it." "However," Heisuke closed the door, "This is your Naoko's idea. To outsiders, Naoko does not exist. The clothes and shoes you wear are all choices made by Sami Nami based on her own judgment. Isn't it weird that Nami herself picked out such a morale pair of boots to go to school?" Appearance is Sami Nami's Naoko, staring blankly at her husband's face for a long time. "Ah..." She opened her mouth wide, "You are right." "You see what I mean?" "Understood." Naoko nodded, and retracted her feet that were already in the boots, "Then I'll wear sneakers. Will it be all right?"

"I think it's better this way." "Hmph! But what if the shoes get muddy so quickly?" Naoko muttered as she put on her sneakers. Because everyone has been thinking about it, Hirasuke decided to go to school with her today to say hello to everyone.The elementary school that Sami Nami attends changes classes every two years, so there is no need to change the head teacher this year, and it will still be Taeko Hashimoto. "I'm fine. You don't have to see me off. It's fine to be alone." After putting on her shoes, Naoko said. "In the case of seed selection, it is reasonable to say hello."

"Really?" Naoko tilted her head and squinted at her husband, "Do you have other goals?" "Other purposes? What do you mean?" "Ms. Hashimoto is young and beautiful, and has a slender figure, which suits Heisuke's taste, right?" "What nonsense are you talking about! Let's go! If you keep lingering, you will be late on the first day." Heisuke pushed Naoko's back and went out the door.He couldn't help thinking in his heart that he was indeed a wife. Although the appearance was different from before, her insight was still so keen.He really wanted to see Hashimoto Takeko a little bit in his heart.

I went out with an umbrella, and happened to meet Kazuko Yoshimoto, a neighbor, who came out to take out the trash. "Oh, Sami Nami, are you going to school today?" "Good morning! Thanks to you, I have caught up with the new semester." "Really. Are you going with her today?" Yoshimoto Kazuko asked Heisuke. "Ah, yes." "I told him that there is no need to send it away, but this guy has to go." "Ah, really..." Although Yoshimoto Kazuko had a smile on his lips, he still couldn't help comparing Naoko and Heisuke with strange eyes.

After walking a long way, Heisuke said, "It's weird to call me 'this guy'!" Naoko covered her mouth, "Ah, did I call you that just now?" "Of course. That's why the aunt next door showed such a surprised expression. You should be more careful next time." "Sorry. I'm still not used to it." "I am the same in this regard. When I think that I must not reveal my secrets today, I feel a little nervous." "Ah, by the way, there is still a meeting today, right?" "Well, in Shinjuku. I don't know what time I will be back. But it shouldn't be too late."

"Understood. For Sami Nami, you have to work hard!" "It should be said that it is for Sami Nami and Naoko." Heisuke corrected. The assembly mentioned refers to the assembly of the families of the victims.It has been held in Tokyo several times before, and the future policy has been set.Gatherings are basically scheduled on rest days.This time, due to the inconvenient time of the lawyer, it was changed to a working day.Heisuke had already explained to the factory, and recorded today as his annual leave.The reason why I was able to send Naoko to school was also because I took a leave of absence.

On the way to school, there is a big intersection.While waiting for the traffic lights there, a teenager across the road was waving to this side.They didn't pay much attention at first.Later, Hirasuke found out that he seemed to be greeting Naoko.The young man was tall, thin, with a handsome face and neat hairstyle. "Hey, that boy, looks like he knows Sami Nami." Heisuke whispered. "I guess so." Naoko also answered in a low voice. "Who is it?" "have no idea." Naoko quickly turned to Heisuke and took out a photo from her shirt pocket.It was a group photo taken when Sami Nami went out for an outing in fifth grade.Heisuke understood Naoko's intentions.She wanted to use this photo to remember the looks and names of her classmates.It just so happened that there was everyone's location and name written by Sami Nami on the back of the photo, which helped her a lot.

"Hey, what are you doing? The green light is on. If you don't pass, you will be suspicious." "Well... let's go." Naoko handed the photo to Heisuke while walking, "You take this." "Huh? What am I going to do with it?" "Help me find out the name of this child. Tell me quietly if you find it." "Oh." The teenager watched intently as the two walked across the sidewalk.There was a refreshing smile on his face.Heisuke thought, this expression should be on the cover of an education magazine. "Sugita, you can come to school from today?" The boy asked Naoko, with a somewhat adult tone in his voice.

"Well, thanks to you," Naoko replied.Then she looked up at Heisuke and introduced, "This is my father." "Hello!" The boy bowed his head in greeting. "Ah, hello!" Hirasuke also hastily responded. The boy continued to walk forward, Naoko walked side by side with him, Hirasuke followed behind them.In order not to attract the boy's attention, he secretly looked at the photo just now.In the photo, the location of the picnic is Mt. Takao, and Yakuo-in Temple can be seen behind the children.The season looks to be early summer.In this way, the photo should have been taken 1O months ago. "I wanted to go to the hospital to see you, but I didn't know if it was convenient for you, so I didn't dare to go. Later, I heard that Kawakami and the others said that you were quite energetic, so I was relieved." "Ah. That's right. Thank you very much..." "However, I think you still don't have much energy. What's the matter?" "No, I'm fine now." Naoko glanced back after finishing speaking, and motioned Hirasuke to quickly find out the boy's name. Heisuke just happened to find someone who looked like the teenager in the photo.Although it feels a little different, it may be caused by a change in hairstyle.Turning to the back, the corresponding position reads "Takeshi Tajima".Perhaps it should be read as "RAJIMATUYOSHI". "Well, Sami Nami, come here." Heisuke shouted from behind.Naoko stopped, asked "what's the matter" and came to Heisuke's side.Heisuke blocked the boy's view with an umbrella, and then showed her the back of the photo. "It should be this," he whispered, pointing to the name "Take Tajima". "Is it 'TAJIMATAKESHI' or 'RAJIMATUYOSHI'?" she muttered, tilting her head under the umbrella. "Yeah, which one? I'm not sure." "Forget it, leave it alone. Ah, I see, Dad." In order for the teenager to hear, she deliberately raised her voice, which made her voice sound a lot more energetic.Naoko came to the boy again: "I kept you waiting." Hirasuke thought in the back: Would a primary school student say something like "I kept you waiting for a long time"? "What's wrong?" "Ah, it's nothing." Naoko looked back at Heisuke after she finished speaking. "My dad said he wanted to know something about Tajima-kun..." "Ah?" Hirasuke widened his eyes after hearing this.However, he immediately understood Naoko's intentions.It was she herself who wanted to know about this boy who spoke very intimately with Sami Nami. "Why?" the boy asked Hirasuke. "Ah, well, I want to know more about the situation of Saina's beautiful friends." Heisuke released a kind smile. "Oh..." The boy looked a little puzzled.It's no wonder - Hirasuke thought so in his heart. "What do the family members do? Are they ordinary wage earners?" "Whose house?" "Of course it belongs to Tajima-kun." "Oh, it's a fish seller." "Ah, it's the fish seller. The fish seller is good." Hirasuke took it easy.As for why selling fish is good, he can't explain it himself. "Where did you go during spring break?" Naoko asked. "I went to the Miura Peninsula." The boy said excitedly, "One of my relatives has a speedboat, and he took me out to sea to go fishing. We caught a lot of big fish, including gaki and rockfish." Bass. Buckets full!" "Really." Naoko nodded as she walked. Hirasuke listened behind him and thought to himself, every day at home watching the fish, but also go fishing?It seems that I always deal with fish, I have feelings for fish, and I am fascinated by fishing. "Especially the rock perch. We caught a lot of them and distributed them to the people around us. Because they are so big, everyone was amazed." "Huh?... Was it given to them for nothing?" Naoko asked. "Yes." "Oh, it would be great to sell it!" "I'm not that greedy for money!" The boy couldn't help laughing after hearing Naoko's words. Hei Jie was behind the two of them, and after hearing what the young man said, he also felt that it was a pity not to sell it.Big, fresh rock perch should command a good price. "How is Tajima-kun's studies? Are there any subjects you are particularly good at?" Heisuke asked from behind. "Well, how should I put it..." The boy tilted his head and thought for a while, "It should be mathematics." "Oh, that's amazing, good grades in math." "However, other subjects are also okay. Mandarin, science, society, etc. are all good." How can I praise myself!Ping Jie felt a little awkward when he heard it. "So Tajima-kun is an all-rounder!" "Almost." The boy replied calmly, "ah, but sports are not very good." "Ah, isn't it?" It doesn't look like it - Heisuke thought to himself looking at the boy's big feet. As the school gets closer and closer, more and more children are walking in the same direction.The children played and played while walking.This is really a child's world. "Sami Nami!" came a shout from behind.Looking for the reputation, Kuniko Kawakami ran over waving his hands.The little checkered skirt on her body was moving up and down. Panting, Kuniko came to Naoko's side. "Ah, you two got together so soon! Really!" She said, looking at the boy and Naoko alternately.Only then did she find Pingjie who was following behind her, and hurriedly nodded her head in greeting: "Good morning, uncle!" By the time Heisuke replied "Good morning", Kuniko had already turned her face to Naoko again.Then she quickly talked about what was on TV last night.Naoko just quietly listened to her. At this time, Heisuke was chewing over and over in his mind the sentence Kuniko said at the beginning: "You two walked together so soon!" What does this sentence mean?Judging from her tone, she seemed to be teasing them.So, are they already in an open relationship?What nonsense, how can elementary school students do it? The school can already be seen ahead.Three faded concrete buildings came into view.Hirasuke didn't know where the classroom of Sami Nami's class was.Naoko should know, he thought.He remembered the few classroom experiences Naoko had come to school for. A fat boy came over.It was obviously still chilly outside, but a few drops of sweat appeared on his temples.Ping Jie thought that this boy would suffer in the summer. "Hi!" The fat boy greeted Naoko and the others, "How are you all?" "Wow, you're getting fat again!" said the boy next to Naoko. "Ah? No way? It's the same as before, right?" the fat man Si pouted and said.Then he glanced at Heisuke, and shrank his neck as if timid. Heisuke said goodbye to Naoko and the others at the place where he walked through the main gate.Naoko glanced back at Heisuke and winked at him with one eye, telling him: I'm fine, I can handle everything successfully. Hirasuke was left alone, and he wanted to have a look around the campus.I don't even know where the teacher's office is. Just then, the fat boy came back again.He looked up at Hirasuke: Excuse me..." "What's wrong?" Hiroki asked. "Is there something wrong with me?" "Ah?" Hirasuke looked down at the fat boy in front of him, "What's wrong...why do you ask?" "But—" the fat boy looked back and said, "I heard that Sugita's father asked a lot about me." "Ah?" Heisuke opened his mouth wide.The next moment he knew what was going on.Pointing to the fat boy's chest, he asked, "Are you Tajima-kun?" The fat boy nodded. "Ah...well, so you are Tajima-kun. The family sells fish?" "Yes indeed." "So that's the case, hahaha! So that's the case. Ah, actually, I don't just want to know about you alone, but I want to know more about Naoko... the situation of the classmates in Sami Nami's class." "Then, is it ready?" "Well, it's fine. But wait a minute, what's the name of that boy just now? The one who walked with Sami Nami." "You mean Endo?" "Ah, so his name is Endo. Thank you, thank you. Well, you have to study hard." Hearing what Heisuke said, Tajima trotted away with a puzzled expression on his short legs.Looking at his back, Heisuke thought to himself, no wonder Endo said he was not good at sports. Hirasuke took out the photo again and compared the name with the person.Looking at it this way, the boy he found at that time was indeed the same person as the fat boy, but the degree of fat and thin was not the same.It looks like Tajima has doubled his weight in the past 10 months. Heisuke turned the photo to the back, found "Naoto Endo" from the row of names, and after carefully confirming the position of the name, he turned the photo to the front. It turned out that Endo was standing next to the head teacher Takamoto Hashimoto in the photo.In the photo, his face is still very childish, his figure is not tall, and he is like a mother to Hashimoto Takeko.Compared with Tajima, he has also changed a lot. In 10 months, he gained height and maturity. Heisuke looked up at the school building that Naoko had entered. Naoko, that is a world you are not familiar with, you have to be careful everywhere——Heisuke expressed his support to his wife in his heart.