Light and dark

[118]

INASMUCH AS, intentionally or as it happened, Kobayashi wouldn’t be led in the direction Tsuda wanted, this precaution may have been necessary. Throughout, while appearing to respond to Tsuda’s inquiries, Kobayashi was actually deflecting them. And from start to finish, he clung pertinaciously to topics that concerned himself. Since what he had to say related, however indirectly, to what Tsuda wanted to hear he listened, if impatiently and with annoyance. He had the feeling that he was being shaken down in a roundabout way.

“I was wondering if Yoshikawa and Okamoto were related,” Kobayashi said inconsequently.

“They’re not relatives, just friends. I told you that the last time you asked.”

“You did? They have so little to do with me I must have forgotten. They may be friends, but they must be more.”

“What does that mean?”

Tsuda wanted to add, “Idiot!”

“I just mean they must be special friends — you needn’t get so angry about it.”

The relationship between Yoshikawa and Okamoto was just as Kobayashi imagined it. The simple truth was simply that. But it was easily possible to observe both sides of that reality, front and back as it were, by installing Tsuda and O-Nobu just behind it.

“You’re a lucky man,” Kobayashi said. “All you have to do is care for O-Nobu-san.”

“I do care for her. I don’t need you pointing out how important that is.”

“Really?”

There it was again! Every time Kobayashi repeated his sanctimonious “Really?” Tsuda felt that he was being threatened.

“But unlike me, you’re a clever one. I suppose you know that everybody thinks you’ve surrendered completely to O-Nobu-san.”

“Who’s everybody?”

“Sensei. His missus—”

It had already occurred to Tsuda that his Aunt and Uncle Fujii held such a view of him.

“I have surrendered, so I can’t help if that’s how it looks.”

“Really? — I’ll say this, an honest John like me can’t hope to emulate you. You’re a class act.”

“You’re honest and I’m a fake, is that what you’re saying? But the fake is admirable and the honest John’s a fool? Since when is that your philosophy?”

“It’s been a while now. And I’m getting ready to go public with it, on the occasion of my departure to Korea.”

An odd premonition flickered in Tsuda’s head.

“Do you have your travel expenses?”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“The company has decided to pay?”

“By no means. I decided to borrow some money from Sensei.”

“Did you? How convenient!”

“There’s nothing convenient about it. You might not think so, but it makes me sick that I have to rely on Sensei.”

This was the man who had no trouble asking Uncle Fujii to see to his younger sister’s marriage.

“I may be a shameless wretch, but I feel terrible about bothering Sensei about money on top of everything else.”

Tsuda didn’t reply. Kobayashi’s next remark sounded genuine enough.

“Isn’t there anyone you can put some pressure on?”

“Not really,” Tsuda snapped, pointedly looking away.

“No one at all? There must be someone somewhere?”

“There isn’t. Business is bad recently.”

“How about you? The world may be in a slump, but you always seem to be doing well enough.”

“Don’t be an ass.”

Having handed over to O-Nobu both the check from Okamoto and the parcel O-Hide had left, Tsuda’s wallet was as good as empty. But on this occasion, with or without assets, he didn’t feel like making a financial sacrifice for Kobayashi’s sake. So long as circumstances left him any choice, he felt no need of accommodating his companion.

Oddly, Kobayashi didn’t press him further. He did, however, turn the conversation abruptly in a curious direction that came as a surprise.

At Fujii’s house that morning, having been served lunch as always, he had already spent considerable time editing a manuscript when the lattice door at the entrance had opened and he had gone out himself to greet whomever was there. The figure standing in the doorway turned out to be O-Hide.

Damn her! Tsuda cried out to himself. She’s beaten me to the punch!

But that wasn’t the end of it. Kobayashi had more surprises in store.