A Midsummer's Equation

FORTY-ONE

When a guest stays six days, it starts getting hard to come up with a new menu for dinner, Narumi thought with some guilt as she laid out a meal almost exactly the same as the one from the night before.

Yukawa walked into the dining room. “Evening.”

“Hello, Mr. Yukawa. Did you go out to the survey boat again today?”

Yukawa nodded, sitting cross-legged on his cushion by the low dinner table. “I finally have things up to speed to start some tests. Makes me wonder when I’ll be able to go back to Tokyo, though.”

“You’ll be here a while longer?”

“It’s hard to say. If DESMEC would stop wasting everyone’s time, this should really only take a few days.”

There was a sound at the door, and Kyohei strode in. As usual, he sat down across from Yukawa. He was carrying a tray with some pork cutlets and rice.

“Once again, you’ve got quite a feast for yourself.”

“I’m always willing to share,” Kyohei said.

Yukawa snorted and looked up at Narumi. “I have a request. Starting tomorrow, can I have the same dinner as him?”

“Oh, but that’s the family dinner, you don’t want that—”

“Actually, I do want that. And don’t worry, I won’t ask you to lower your rates or anything.”

Narumi rested her hands on her knees and hung her head. “I’m sorry. You must be sick of the same thing every night. I’m really trying my hardest.”

Yukawa chuckled dryly and waved his chopsticks in front of his face. “I’m not upset. The seafood here is remarkable. It’s just, it’s possible to grow tired of restaurant food, and start wanting something a little more like home.”

Narumi looked him in the eye. “You mean like your wife cooks?”

Yukawa shrugged. “Unfortunately, my wife doesn’t cook anything, because I’m not married. When I speak of home cooking, I mean things that I make at home. Although I’ve no doubt the home-cooked meals from your kitchen would be several grades superior. Do you do the cooking here?”

“I help, but it’s my mom who does most of it. When we’re busier, we have a cook who comes.”

“Your mother?” Yukawa said, sticking his chopsticks into some jellied fish. “Well, she has quite a bit of talent. Did she study somewhere?”

“She worked at a restaurant when she was younger. I think as a sort of apprentice.”

“Someplace in Tokyo?”

Narumi shrugged. “I think so.”

“Oh, I know that story,” Kyohei butted in. “She met Uncle Shigehiro at a restaurant, right?” He looked to Narumi for confirmation.

“Right,” she admitted. “But I don’t know any embarrassing details, if that’s what you’re after.”

Yukawa shrugged. “It was before you were born.”

“They made lots of local dishes there, that’s what Uncle Shigehiro said,” Kyohei added.

“Local to where?” Yukawa asked.

“I mean they caught lots of fish from the sea here in Hari Cove and made it like they do here, except they were serving it at the restaurant in Tokyo. Get it? That made it taste different from the other places. My uncle told me all about it.”

“Was that so?” Yukawa asked, looking at Narumi.

She shrugged, unsure why the physicist’s eyes put a knot in her stomach.

“Well, it sounds fabulous. Local food away from home. A welcome taste for people in the big city, no doubt. That must’ve been what attracted your father. Sounds like destiny to me.”

“Sounds like you’ve been watching too many movies,” Narumi said, shaking her head.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people from around here ended up at that restaurant, along with your father. They must’ve had quite the reunion, familiar friends around familiar dishes.”

“I don’t know. I guess,” Narumi said, standing. “My parents never really talk about it.” She tried to smile, but her cheeks were tight and her face drawn. “Enjoy your meal,” she managed, and fled the room.

* * *

Back in the lobby, she stopped when she saw the painting on the wall, remembering what Yukawa had said to her the night before. He knew the painting had been made in East Hari. And now he was asking more questions. She regretted having mentioned that Setsuko had ever worked at a restaurant.

She wondered what Yukawa knew. How much had he realized? And what had he been discussing with his detective friend, Kusanagi? The sound of the telephone ringing on the front counter stopped her on the way to the kitchen. She tensed, a bad feeling welling up inside her as she remembered the last call she had taken from the Tokyo Police Department. Her throat felt tight. She coughed once to clear it before picking up the receiver. “Hello, Green Rock Inn.”

“Hello? I’m sorry, but is this the Kawahata residence?” The voice belonged to a young woman. She sounded very polite.

“Yes, it is, may I ask who’s speaking?”

There was a pause, then the woman said, “Yes, my name’s Reiko Ozeki. Is Narumi home?”

Narumi immediately began flipping through faces in her head. It took about three seconds before she remembered.

“Reiko! Hi, how are you? It’s me.”

“I thought it was you! Your voice hasn’t changed at all. It’s been so long! How have you been?”

“I’m doing okay.”

The unexpected call from an old classmate lifted Narumi’s spirits for a moment, but then another premonition crept in. It’s been ten years. Why would she call now?

“It’s been so long, and I’ve been thinking I should give you a call, but I just never found the time. It’s been busy at work. You know, I’m working at a car dealership now.”

“Wow, sounds great,” Narumi said, bristling. You never found the time before, so why have you found it now?

“What’ve you been up to? I guess if you’re still at your parents’ house, you’re not married?”

“Nope. I’m here, helping out with the inn.”

“Oh, that’s good. Hey, have you heard? Naomi’s got two kids already. And her husband’s a total loser.”

They began talking about some of the other girls who had been in their tennis club, feeding each other with gossip and recent news. It was fun enough, but a voice inside Narumi’s head kept repeating the question, Why now?

She listened politely until Reiko asked, “So, how’ve things been with you? Anything new?”

“What do you mean, anything new?”

“I mean anything. You know, any fun surprises, random encounters?”

What are you getting at? Narumi thought, but she said “No, nothing really. Just life, you know.”

“Oh,” Reiko said. “Well, that sounds just like me, then. Oh, hey, look at the time. I’m sorry. You must be busy. I hope I didn’t interrupt your work too much.”

“No, it’s fine. I was just wrapping up for the night.”

“Look, I’ll call again soon. Hey, can you give me your cell phone number?”

They exchanged numbers and Narumi was half expecting her to hang up, when Reiko asked, somewhat hesitantly, “That was Ogikubo, right?

“Huh?” Narumi tensed. “What about Ogikubo?”

“Your house. You lived near the station, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but what about it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just, talking about old friends made me remember, but I wasn’t entirely sure, you know? Sorry. Anyway, talk again soon.”

“Yeah, thanks so much for calling,” Narumi said, waiting until she heard her hang up before she put down the phone. Her hand was shaking.

There was no doubt about it in her mind: someone had come asking Reiko questions. They wanted to know about Narumi’s middle school, about where she had been living. Whoever it was must have left an impression for Reiko to call like this out of the blue.

The police, Narumi thought. They’re looking into my past. Into Ogikubo. Her legs shook beneath her until it was too much for her to stand, and she had to crouch, steadying herself with one hand on the old front desk.