Chapter 5 Part 1, Section 5: Cicadas of the Eighth Day (5)

"Okay, come here, where are you now?" Kang Zhi said cheerfully. "Tell you, I'm not alone." I said as high-pitched as I could. "Huh? Not alone?" "Kang Zhi, don't be surprised when you hear that. I am a mother now. I am a mother." "Huh? Really? When? God, you're trying to scare me to death. Why don't you say... When, when were you born? God, is it true?" "Sorry, I'm out of coins. We'll talk later when we meet. I'm going to take the tram." I interrupted Kang Zhi, who was asking questions loudly, and hung up the phone.

We take the Sobu Line.Kaoru was in a great mood, and kept smiling and reaching out to the young man sitting next door.I saw that the man seemed troubled, so I held Kaoru's chubby arm every time to stop him.With five small fingers firmly holding my hand, Kaoru looked up at me blankly. We get off at Hon Hachiman.On the way to Kangzhi's apartment, I regurgitated what I should say when I arrived.No problem, no problem, I told myself.The last time I went to Kangzhi’s house was the eve of my resignation from work, so it was already a year ago.The road leading from the station to the track has become far more lively than in memory.There's a pharmacy, a record rental store, a florist, fast food chain restaurants.

Kang Zhi was already waiting in front of the apartment.As soon as she saw me, she ran over with a wave and took a closer look at Kaoru.Wow, wow, so cute, you are actually a mother!While screaming, she embraced Kaoru with a hand that was firmer than mine.Kaoru wrinkled his face, hesitant to cry, and opened his mouth in a whine, but his expression remained fixed, and his clear eyes kept staring at Kang Zhi. "Where's Miki?" I asked. "At Grandma's," she replied.Kang Zhi's mother used to live alone in Yokohama, but now she seems to have moved to a nearby house that was first built and then sold. "She sometimes helps me with the baby. But even if I don't ask her, she will pick up the baby automatically." Kangzhi said with a smile, "What's the baby's name? Is it a girl?" She looked closer at Kaoru.

"My name is Kaoru, please teach me a lot from now on!" I deliberately used childish language, Kang Zhi smiled, and Kaoru also grinned.I'm in a slightly broader mood.It was right to come here. Kangzhi's house is on the fifth floor of an eight-story apartment. There are many more things than when I visited before, and it feels very messy.There are graffiti on the paper door of the Japanese room, and story books and doll houses are scattered around. "It was a new house that had just been built when I bought it, but I've lived in it for five years. That guy wouldn't listen to me telling him to quit smoking. Meiji is now a genius muralist again."

As if seeing what I was thinking, Kang Zhi smiled while handing me the slippers. "Uh, Kangzhi, I want to ask you for help." I sat down on the sofa and said. "What can I do for you—" Kang Zhi, who seemed to be making tea in the kitchen, asked in a long voice. I took a deep breath before opening my mouth.