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    Seven Stories
    Seven Stories
    Seven Stories
    Ebook274 pages3 hours

    Seven Stories

    By MORI Hiroshi

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    About this ebook

    "She disappeared before I knew it, but appeared near me at the next moment. Like a witch." (from "Which Is the Witch?")

    This is the first English collection of Dr. MORI, Hiroshi's seven short stories. It includes two works from 'S&M (Saikawa & Moe) Series', which has been overwhelmingly popular over two decades, and has been made into a TV drama series and a TV animation series.

    Dr. MORI is Japan's best novelist, selected as a "Hall of Fame Author" by Amazon.co.jp. This is the birth of what can be considered the miraculous compilation, selected from a vast amount of his star-studded, diverse works. An interpretative script written by Ryusui Seiryoin (Chief Editor of The BBB / Translator) is also included.

    Finally, the world discovers "Dr. MORI, Hiroshi", the legendary mystery novelist from Japan.

    This collection includes:
    "The Girl Who Was the Little Bird"
    "A Pair of Hearts"
    "I'm In Debt to Akiko"
    "Silent Prayer In Empty"
    "Kappa"
    "The Rooftop Ornaments of Stone Ratha"
    "Which Is the Witch?"
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLulu.com
    Release dateJul 7, 2016
    ISBN9781365243325
    Seven Stories

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      Book preview

      Seven Stories - MORI Hiroshi

      Seven Stories

      Seven Stories

      Originally written in Japanese by MORI, Hiroshi

      Translated by Ryusui Seiryoin

      Cover illustration by SASAKI, Subaru

      Cover design by SASAKI, Subaru

      Japanese edition copyright © 1997, 1999, 2001 MORI, Hiroshi / Kodansha

      English edition copyright © 2013-2016 MORI, Hiroshi / The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books

      All rights reserved.

      ISBN: 978-1-365-24332-5

      The Girl Who Was the Little Bird

      -1-

      When his father suddenly died, Kiyofumi Shimaoka resigned from a university hospital position and married in haste. He was 34 and was to take his father’s place as the head of Shimaoka Hospital. His wife was Ayako, an experienced nurse already working there. As many couples do, they had fallen in love under somewhat mysterious circumstances, but felt their love was idyllic. At the time, they were young and thought about getting married. But Kiyofumi’s parents were strongly opposed at during the time, so they waited.

      Later, because of Kiyofumi’s job at the university hospital, he had to live far from Ayako. And in the meantime, his mother fell ill and died. Several years later, his father died, too. Even so, for Kiyofumi and Ayako, getting married turned out not to be simple or easy.

      Indeed, we find few simple stories in this world.

      As it turned out, Kiyofumi and Ayako were actually separated for ten years. The sweet memories from their youthful love (back then, he actually felt them as bitter memories) were fairly weathered, and Kiyofumi felt it a miracle that both of them were still single. But at the same time, if he had to sum it up into one phrase … well … it was too late. On the surface, their relationship seemed stable, but underneath, they both felt uncomfortable and bitterly embarrassed. They were always ill at ease with one another and only a warped sense remained between them. Even so, Kiyofumi understood that they might try to fill the faint void that had appeared as a fault in life making drastic changes to their lives. At least, that’s how Kiyofumi tried to think of it.

      ***

      All this was complicated by public attention toward them because, in fact, Hideo Shimaoka, Kiyofumi’s father, had been murdered.

      Close to the end of the year, in the dead of night, a man was taken by an ambulance to Shimaoka Hospital, which Hideo headed. The man, picked up from where he lay on a road, was dead drunk. His head was slightly injured, and he was only partially conscious from his drunkenness and the hit on the head, so the injury’s cause was unknown. But fresh internal bleeding was found around his knee, and the medics thought he might have been hit by a car. That night, Ayako was on duty, and she and Hideo treated the injured man in a consultation room.

      Then, sometime before dawn, the injured man started crying out from his hospital room. Ayako called for Hideo and took the man to a consultation room. While the injured man and Hideo talked, Ayako was busy in an adjacent room.

      Then, she was startled by a sudden, loud noise.

      She rushed into the consulting room, where Hideo was on the floor and the injured man was running into the corridor.

      Hideo bled from his head. Ayako tried to treat the unconscious Hideo’s head injury, but she finally gave up, called for another nurse, and hastily called an ambulance.

      When the ambulance arrived, Hideo’s pulse had already stopped. Still, he was taken to the surgical ward of another hospital in a nearby town, but to no avail. In the morning, he was declared deceased.

      At least, this is the story the police told Kiyofumi later. Hideo seemed to have been repeatedly hit on the head with the chair on which the injured man had been sitting. Nothing was discovered about the injured man. His identity was unknown. He could not be found.

      Despite the horrible attack, Kiyofumi didn’t think his father knew the man. Ayako agreed with him. Rumor had it that a psychopath had murdered the head of Shimaoka Hospital. Kiyofumi, too, could only think so. And, finally, there was no point in thinking about it anymore.

      ***

      This tragic misfortune seemed to fall suddenly from the sky like a meteor. Three months after his father’s death, Kiyofumi began working at Shimaoka Hospital. Six months after that, he married Ayako. He had always vaguely expected that he would get back to Shimaoka Hospital one day, as if he had noted it on a corner of his life’s calendar. But at the time, he had thought it would be another ten years at least. Beyond that, he still didn’t exactly understand why he had married Ayako.

      Actually, he had a girlfriend at the university hospital—a doctor, his colleague. When he told her that he was resigning to return to Shimaoka Hospital, she raised her hands as if in surrender.

      You mean, it’s over, right?

      Those were her last words. If she had said more or less, he would have regretted his actions. So it seemed appropriate. Kiyofumi felt her words were necessary and sufficient, so that he could part with her with a smile. He found that he had become more adult than he thought.

      Kiyofumi thought he might have decided to marry Ayako due to a reaction from this easy breakup with his girlfriend or from an unsatisfied, unnoticed emotion of some kind. He could find only these vague reasons, nothing concrete. At least, he couldn’t think of anything he desired so as to be happier than he was then. Kiyofumi thought their marriage might work some kind of repair on both of them, as if it may fill a small hole that had appeared unnoticed or file the rusty, reverse side of their minds.

      ***

      When Kiyofumi took over as head of Shimaoka Hospital, it was often visited by detectives from the police station. Needless to say, as the sole witness, Ayako always attended to them. Kiyofumi remained more or less an outsider to the investigation because he had been hundreds of kilometers away when his father was murdered. Since the detectives didn’t tell Kiyofumi much, he wondered whether they were making any progress. So, he often summoned Ayako during work breaks to talk about it. But at the same time, the hospital’s financial status was discovered to be shaky, so Kiyofumi and Ayako began talking more about streamlining as well as downsizing the hospital than about his father’s murder. Kiyofumi was forced to let some clerks go and consider the disposition of his father’s property.

      Ayako had said, jokingly, If you married me, you could save the cost of a nurse and a housemaid. At the time, Kiyofumi didn’t seem to pay much attention, but her words must have gotten under his skin. He felt as if she had read his thoughts. That’s how, in short, they got back together. Before this, Kiyofumi had given up all thought of marrying Ayako, so, since he didn’t expect the marriage, it was fresh to him.

      ***

      Their days were so busy, they didn’t even have time to say, I’m tired. Kiyofumi never went fishing—his favorite way to relax and refresh himself. Instead, he worked accurately and quietly as a machine. He hadn’t known he could work so diligently. And to be fair, he couldn’t be idle because Ayako was juggling the work of the hospital and their home. Fortunately for her, they had living space in the hospital site.

      Several weeks after their marriage, Kiyofumi noticed Ayako had acquired a little bird as a pet. Passing by the open door of the nurse’s waiting room, he noticed a small yellow birdcage. Ayako was standing by the window. Kiyofumi stopped and asked her who cared for the little bird.

      Actually, I do, she replied.

      The bird was white, a little smaller than a sparrow. Its beak was reddish, and its feathery, round body looked so lovely. Kiyofumi didn’t know much about birds, but Java sparrow came into his head, so he asked Ayako, Is it a Java sparrow?

      Well … I wonder just what it is?

      You wonder? You bought it without knowing what it was?

      No, actually … I didn’t buy it to begin with.

      Then, Kiyofumi was surprised by the story Ayako told him. According to Ayako, she had seen the little bird in the consultation room the night Kiyofumi’s father had been murdered.

      I heard it fluttering its wings. I was so surprised by the sound … especially right after … well, you know. I looked around and saw that it was just a little bird. At first, I thought a sparrow had blundered into the room, with everyone going in and out. Of course, I couldn’t care for it at the time. I just left it there. But later, er … I forget exactly who it was … anyway somebody caught it and put it into a box, I guess because it was so beautiful. The next day, I think, I noticed a box with some holes in it. It had an injury to its wing, and it was limp … I felt pity for it … I cared for it and fed it. Then, it got well somehow. I bought the cage for it.

      You said, ‘it blundered into the room.’ But it was dark and cold, not the season when windows would be open?

      Ah, I mean, I just thought so at the time. This bird must have been brought in by the guy.

      "The guy? You mean, the man who murdered my father?"

      Yes. The police investigated it. That guy had a small box with him on the street. When the ambulance brought him to the hospital, the box seemed to be his belongings. Apparently, the box was under the bed in his room. Its lid was open … There’s no doubt the little bird had been in it. A detective said he found some of its feathers in there.

      ‘That means … the guy bought this little bird at a pet shop and carried it in the box? Then he had an accident?"

      Right. I heard they investigated pet shops nearby.

      But, the box was in the man’s … the patient’s room, right? The little bird was in the consultation room. That means the guy took the bird out of the box and brought it to the consultation room? You saw it?

      Um, I didn’t notice it. But, yes, I think he did. Maybe he put it in his pocket.

      Kiyofumi watched the little bird in its cage for a while. It had a lustrous, white body and reddish beak. It moved its eyes and neck in quick, neat motions. It seemed to look back at Kiyofumi. The ghastly scene of his father’s death that Kiyofumi had been imagining vanished. This, at least, was one life unrelated to the case. Kiyofumi sighed and smiled a little.

      Anyway, this little bird is innocent …

      -2-

      The first winter after they married, Kiyofumi Shimaoka entrusted his work to a former associate from the university hospital and went on an overnight trip with Ayako. It was his first vacation. They visited a nearby hot spring, so they traveled light. They had a leisurely, carefree time. Bathing comfortably in the hot spring, Kiyofumi rather absently looked back on the hectic year. No strong emotions came up. But he thought, I got settled.

      Late at night on their way back home, they wanted to take a taxi from the subway station nearest to the hospital, but there was a long line at the taxi stand. Just then, the right bus pulled up, so they took it. Their stop was about a ten-minute walk from the hospital. Kiyofumi intended to carry Ayako’s belongings, but she said she could carry that herself. They walked along the night road in silence.

      A chill, dry wind was blowing.

      Unexpectedly, a vision of Kiyofumi’s former girlfriend from the university hospital popped into his head. How is she doing …?

      Kiyofumi and Ayako passed the entrance to a small park in the midst of a residential district. At the entrance there stood a lamppost. Its white halo revealed a shabbily dressed woman, just standing there in the dark, cold night, holding her child’s hand. Both of them were staring at Kiyofumi and Ayako, approaching the path. Kiyofumi didn’t know them. He looked away and tried to pass by, but to his surprise, the woman called out to him in a weak voice, Sir … excuse me.

      Kiyofumi stopped. A little ahead of him, Ayako stopped too.

      May I ask if you are a doctor in Shimaoka Hospital? You are, aren’t you? She gazed inquiringly at Kiyofumi.

      Yes, Kiyofumi replied, glancing at Ayako and then looking back at the woman.

      She wore several layers of filthy, coarse summer clothes. The kid looked like an elementary school student, with tanned skin, a fearless face, but eyes cautious of others—like many boys at that age. Kiyofumi felt nervousness in the atmosphere. He thought if he stepped forward, the child might run away.

      Umm, I, er … my name is Miyamoto. … Finally, she said awkwardly, Actually, I’d like to have a private word with Doctor Shimaoka. I visited the hospital a little while ago and heard that Doctor Shimaoka would be back tonight. So, we are waiting here for you.

      Private talk? With me?

      Yes, sir.

      At this late hour?

      I’m so sorry about that.

      How can I help you?

      Umm, I cannot talk here … er, I mean …

      Kiyofumi looked back at his wife. Ayako’s face, seemingly bland, warned him not to get involved.

      But Kiyofumi said, Okay, then, come talk to me in the hospital. Follow me. As it was extremely cold outside.

      The woman tried pulling the child forward by the hand. But the kid said thickly, I won’t. and stood stiffly. The woman whispered something to the kid and stepped forward.

      You’re going to leave him here? Kiyofumi was apprehensive about leaving a child alone in the park at night. Is he okay? At this late hour?

      Ah, yes, sir. Thank you for your concern. But it’s okay, said the mother.

      The three walked about a hundred meters from the park to the hospital. Kiyofumi told Ayako to go ahead to their living space in the hospital. As the woman seemed to have some complicated problem, he thought she would talk to him more easily alone. He led the woman to a consultation room, turned on the light and heater, and then turned to face her.

      I’m so sorry for this sudden visit. She bowed deeply.

      In the bright room, Kiyofumi noticed she was younger than he had first thought. Probably, about his own age. But her hair was untidy and her skin rough. Her eyes were red and her fingers were dirty. It seemed unlikely that she led a decent or average life. But she spoke politely, and her pronunciation seemed to show intelligence. That might have been the only reason Kiyofumi let her into the hospital in the dead of night.

      Actually, I heard that the former head of this hospital was murdered by an unknown man, and that he had been brought to this hospital by an ambulance.

      Yes, you’re right. That was my father who was killed, and the guy who did it hasn’t been found yet.

      I think the missing man might be my husband.

      What? Kiyofumi was shocked.

      Staring at him, the woman nodded.

      Your … husband? Umm, now he is …

      Well, from what I heard from acquaintances, my husband went missing about the same time this happened at the hospital. Also, the age and appearance of the murderer were …

      Have you contacted the police?

      Not yet.

      And your husband hasn’t come back?

      No, he hasn’t. He disappeared one night about a year ago. It was so sudden.

      But … it might be just a coincidence …

      Um … of course, but it’s not only that.

      What do you mean?

      The day before yesterday I saw a bird cage by a second-floor window here, in this hospital.

      Bird cage?

      Yes, a white bird is …

      Ah, I knew it, Kiyofumi interrupted, nodding. That bird. So, what’s the problem with the bird?

      It was the bird that was fostered in my home.

      Was it … ? Kiyofumi opened his mouth but couldn’t continue.

      My husband got drunk a lot. Every night. You know, even though it was an everyday occurrence, it was too much that night. He knocked our child down, took the bird … and just left without a word.

      Your husband took the bird away?

      Yes.

      Why on earth did he take the bird?

      I don’t know … out of revenge for something, or he might have intended to eat it.

      Ah … he would eat it? Really? I see.

      I believe that the man who killed your father might have been my husband. I offer my sincere apologies for it. She bowed deeply.

      Er, umm … Kiyofumi was confused, but honestly, he didn’t have any hard feelings for the woman in front of him. Almost a year had passed. In addition, the family of such a person was some kind of victim too. He felt sorry for the child waiting in the park alone—robbed of a bird.

      You should go to the police. And I will contact the police.

      Thank you for your concern, the woman whispered, and bowed again. After that, she stared at the floor.

      Shall I get the bird back to the boy? Kiyofumi asked.

      Huh? Ah, er, I don’t mean … The woman raised her head and shook it.

      But, originally …

      No, she interrupted. If we take it back home, I don’t think we could care for it very well. Could you keep it here? It must be a happier place for the bird … Please do that.

      Ah … I can do that, of course.

      Kiyofumi walked the woman to the entrance. She said, I’m okay. Thanks, repeatedly bowing. But Kiyofumi followed her because he wanted to talk to the kid waiting in the park.

      The sound of the swing chain was rhythmic and drew the mother and Kiyofumi to the deep end of the park. When they got close to the playground, the kid dragged the feet on the ground to stop the swing and looked up at Kiyofumi. The kid didn’t blink, and the black eyes didn’t move. The mouth was firmly shut, and the face didn’t change.

      That was your bird, wasn’t it?

      The child nodded.

      Don’t you want to take it home with you?

      Without hesitation, the child shook the head. The response was too fast to be natural. His mother told him to do that. The kid’s liquid-like beautiful eyes were directed at Kiyofumi and didn’t move at all.

      All right … I promise I will cherish it. Kiyofumi smiled to relieve the kid and put his hand forward to shake hands. But the kid didn’t respond.

      Can you tell me the name?

      Kiyoshi.

      Kiyoshi … okay, then, let me suggest this, Kiyofumi pulled his hand back and smiled. I’ll keep your bird, but you can see it any time. Any time you want to. If you decide you want it back, I’ll give it back to you and all its feed, and the birdcage as well.

      As they parted, Kiyofumi gave the woman all the 10,000-yen bills he had, probably about 100,000 yen. She refused it, but he pressed it into her hand and hurried away.

      Where do they live?

      They are going back home in this cold and dark?

      Does the boy go to school?

      Kiyofumi thought about their poverty-stricken life. The images were so typical that he smiled ironically. He stopped in front of the hospital entrance and sighed deeply, looking up at the stars in the clear night sky.

      Kiyoshi—The boy’s name is a little similar to mine.

      Christmas was approaching.

      -3-

      Things didn’t change a lot after that. It turned out that the missing suspect’s name was Masaru Miyamoto. But he hadn’t been found, and four years had gone by.

      After meeting Mrs. Miyamoto and the kid, Kiyofumi began taking care of the little bird himself. For him, this was odd. He had never been interested in having any small creature near him since he was very young. He even surprised himself, buying feed when he had free time and frequently cleaning the cage.

      Hey, Ayako. Look at that. Watching the bird hop about in the cage, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.

      Ayako chuckled, Well, well. Is it all that cute?

      Yes, Kiyofumi nodded seriously.

      Ayako looked at him and puckered her lips as if jealous. It’s adorable because it’s in the cage.

      What do you mean?

      Got me …

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