Four

“Kuronomiya.” A female colleague of mine named Futaba Megumi approached me at my desk.

“Yes?”

“Hamada-san is looking for you.”

“Ah. Thank you for telling me. I’ll go now.” I said, saved the document that I was working on and got up from my chair. Hamada Tetsuo-san was my immediate supervisor. We had a very cordial superior-subordinate relationship and so, it wasn’t odd that he would ask for me often. Being a bit of a workaholic helps me get my work done, at least, and so I had earned my place.

I knocked on Hamada-san’s glass door. He waved me in immediately. “Ah, Kuronomiya-kun. I have to say, you’ve done quick and good work on your previous project.”

“Thank you, Hamada-san.” I bowed. “It was thanks to your timely guidance.”

“Mm. Well, I called you here for another reason though. I know that you have just finished a few major projects, both with your team and individually, but I would like to assign you something.”

He would always speak so gently and politely but that did not mean that his assignments were any less than orders. I could not refuse. “What would that be?”

“You know that the company is planning expansions, right? As part of that, we’re opening a few new outlets spread across Tokyo. The sales model that you had come up with in your previous project seems like it can be adapted to fit our needs. I will mail you the details so that you can work on it. If this sales model works at one of the new outlets, we can look into its further applicability too.”

My sales model? “I’d be happy to work on it, Hamada-san, I’ll involve the team as well. I’m sure that they have a lot that they can do to contribute too.”

“Okay.” He nodded and asked after a pause. “Are you leaving now?”

“I’m almost done with today’s work. I’ll be leaving within the hour.” I replied.

Hamada-san was thirty-five years old. He had made his way up to the post of Division Manager through effort and perseverance. While his strong brown pupils held a youthful vigour, his stray grey hair was testimony to his tireless work and the pressure. It was no wonder that he was up for another promotion soon.

“Do send me the details of the sales for the 2-chome branch too before you leave.”

“I shall do that.” I bowed, excused myself and returned to my work. It had not even been a week since I finished my previous project.

So much for taking a break…

Once I was done with my immediate work, I packed up and left for home. When I was waiting at the bus stop, I received a call from my brother. When I reported that I had just left work, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

“I’m a little tied up with work. I was expecting to finish in an hour but it doesn’t seem likely. I was supposed to pick Aki up from the daycare but... Oh, am I glad that you’re done! Could you go pick her up? Kaori’s home. She’s not feeling too well. It’s that time of the month so… I’ll send you a text message. Buy her that medicine for the pain too, okay?”

At the pause that I had gotten from him there, I spoke up. “Hikaru-nii, breathe.”

“S-Sorry. I have a meeting now so…” He responded sheepishly.

“Mm. I understand. Leave it to me.” I said. He was a family man to the core and it was very rare for his planning to go wrong. When it did, like this, he would panic, if not ever-so-slightly.

“Thanks a lot, Kakeru. You’re a good little brother.” I could almost picture him grinning ear-to-ear as he said that. “Then, please take care of my womenfolk.”

I chuckled. “Yes. I’ll see you then.” I hung up and waited for the bus. The daycare was rather close to our house. It was just a ten-minute walk. There was a medical store on the way too. Kaori-nee had always had these bad spells so we had all adjusted to it. She was the one who would usually pick Aki-chan up on her way back from the library where she worked.

On occasions like this, I couldn’t help but feel compelled not to move out. I hadn’t really talked about it to anyone either. If anything, Hikaru-nii would be upset. Even though I am just his younger brother, to him, it would be akin to letting Aki-chan go.

I smiled at that thought. After all, Hikaru-nii was also a good elder brother.

The daycare was practically swarming with little ones in their play-clothes when I arrived. It looked like they were getting their share of the outdoors. Although it wasn’t my first time at the place, I was not very familiar with the way around. One of the teachers in the place approached me on seeing my confusion.

“Good evening. Are you here to pick someone up?” She smiled the kind of smile that would have made her popular among the children.

“Yes. Good evening.” I bowed. “I’m here for Kuronomiya Akiko.”

“Your name?”

“Ah, sorry. I’m Kuronomiya Kakeru.” I replied.

“Okay. I had heard from Kuronomiya Hikaru-san. Wait a moment, please.” She nodded and looked around. Soon, she raised one hand, cupped the other around her mouth and called out. “Akiko-chan!”

I followed her line of sight to find my beloved little niece sitting in the sandpit with a few other girls and a boy. She sprang to her feet and dashed for me immediately on seeing me. “Kake-jii!”

I crouched and took her into my arms when she threw herself onto me. “Good evening, Aki-chan!”

“Why did Kake-jii come? What about Otou-san?” She enquired after snuggling up to me a little.

“Otou-san’s busy. He said that he’s sorry for not being able to come.” I answered. “Shall we go home? Kaa-chan’s waiting.”

“Yes!” She nodded vigorously.

“I’ll get her ready to leave.” The teacher who was with us offered and took Aki-chan back into the building to change her out of her play clothes and into her regular clothes. I waited outside for those few minutes and watched the other children. I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for them, really. They were all so young, oblivious and carefree. They had their entire lives ahead of them.

They had adulthood ahead of them.

Notes: 

Otou-san: Father

Kaa-chan: Mother