Chapter 132 – Japan Without Typhoons

“Knowing it already, it still manages to be surprising, doesn’t it?”

One day in early November, in a detached Japanese-style room next to a large Western-style mansion, an elderly man in kimono and two middle-aged men exchanged words with indescribable expressions.

The elderly man was Ootori Souichirou, and the middle-aged man was Ootori Kiichirou.
Both were the eldest sons of the Ootori count family; the elder had retired, and the middle-aged man was the current head of the house.

But with Souichirou, the shadows of old age were deepening day by day.

Born in 1852, the year before Perry’s arrival, he was now seventy-seven.
In the early Showa period, that was well and truly an old age. 

Moreover, since catching a bad cold four summers ago, his physical decline had become pronounced.

That was why, though dressed in kimono, his appearance was that of someone who had just risen from his futon and thrown a single layer over himself.

Yet his eyes still had not lost their intelligence and vigor.

“Indeed. And what did Tokita say?”

“Reiko seems to be listless at the moment. Even though she only saw it in a dream, it seems to have weighed on her quite a bit.”

“She’s not even ten yet and already overreaching herself. Of course it would take a toll. So, is she returning to Japan right away?”

“No. Reiko has already given her instructions—Tokita and the newly hired American were sent ahead to Japan by the North Pacific route, but the rest are taking their time, returning the long way around through Europe. It seems to be something of a trip to mend a wounded heart.”

“Very much like Reiko. Well, seeing all sorts of things will probably be good for her too.”

“All sorts of things, sure. But it’s not like she’s going to strike oil. Even Zenkichi was in a complete panic about it.”

They both gave wry smiles at that, though in truth, they themselves were in the same boat.

Both of them, along with the profits from stocks, had been receiving all kinds of comments—and in practice, scoldings—from those at the core of Japan’s power. And for the time being, that was going to continue.

Yet neither of them put it into words. They simply went on speaking in a calm tone.

“Apparently it’s on quite a scale.”

“Just the transfer of rights alone amounts to tens of millions of dollars. Add in the later profits, and it doubles again. Converted into yen, it might easily exceed one hundred million. Along with the stock profits, there’s no one left in Japan who can stop her.”

“And that’s as it should be. The Ootori have chosen to run on the back of Reiko, the ‘Dreaming Miko.’ If it’s a matter of glory or the abyss, then we have no choice but to push on toward glory. Rather than clumsily trying to stop her, it’s better to just let Reiko run. As long as you and those around her at least keep hold of the reins.”

“Well, true enough.”

With a half-resigned tone, he gave his reply and downed the contents of the sake cup on the tray before him in a single gulp.
Only Kiichirou’s tray had sake; next to Souichirou was only a cup of tea.

And Souichirou too, almost by reflex, lifted his teacup and took a small sip.

“Kiichirou, I don’t have much time left. I’ll be counting on you for the rest.”

“…Don’t say that. If possible, live carefree at least until I retire from the army. I’ve got four and a half years until I’m sixty.”

“That much is in the hands of fate. But these past few years of life feel like they were given to me by Reiko. I think I’ve fulfilled my role well enough, don’t you?”

“Well, from the family’s perspective, yes. But what I just said was my own wish. I feel lonely, you know—Kiiichi went before me, Ryuujirou passed away with him, Torasaburou and I never really got along, and Genji and Ayako… Well, they’re just like that.”

Kiichirou’s expression didn’t change as he said this, but his voice carried a shadow.

“Should we strengthen our ties with the Kou family?”

“To some extent, maybe. But in my generation, it’s impossible to go very deep. There’s no man as brazen as Kouryuu, and the grudge between Sou and Kou will probably only be settled in his generation.”

“Reiko seems strangely attached to Kouryuu.”

“Because they’re both eccentrics. The Ootori are full of oddballs, but those two are on another level.”

“No doubt about that. Then, here’s a toast—to the future of eccentrics.”

“…I’m an eccentric myself, though.”

With that, they clinked sake cup and tea cup together with a soft chin.

…
…
…

“This year is quiet.”

“Because Reiko isn’t here.”

“She keeps sending us souvenirs one after another, though—”

“And in her letters, she wrote that she’s in Rome by now.”

Ryuuichi, Gentarou, Koshirou, and Youko, in that order, spoke as they sat before the enormous Christmas tree.

All of them were children of the Ootori family, sharing the same great-grandfather, so they were nearly direct-line descendants.
However, the only true direct heir was their cousin Reiko. 

Since they were not yet at the age to be strongly aware of such matters, they were simply talking about her absence.

The massive Christmas tree in front of them stood before the Ootori Hotel, a tradition that began last year when Reiko had it set up.
This year it had been installed again in the hope of making it a regular custom, but the one who started it was away overseas.

“I wonder what the next souvenir will be.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if it were some showy thing from the West Coast?”

“That was fun, wasn’t it—”

“Yeah—”

Koshirou and Youko hit it off and shifted the topic.
And just as they said, ever since Reiko had gone abroad, souvenirs from wherever she was had been sent back regularly, usually with about a one-month delay.

“That was nice, but weren’t there a lot of duds, like those badly made Statues of Liberty or those Indian charms?”

“The British-made fountain pen was great, but yeah, most of it was kind of weird.”

“I got a dress from someone named Chanel, and it was super cute!”

“She sent me a bunch of jazz records and sheet music of the latest songs.”

“Whoa! Why do you all get such nice things?”

Ryuuichi shot a betrayed look at the three of them, but his younger sister Youko only gave him a half-lidded glance in return.

“That’s because, big brother, you don’t have any hobbies.”

“Wh-what? Youko, I work hard at sports and stuff, don’t I?”

He usually managed to keep up appearances, but lately his little sister’s verbal attacks had been getting sharper, and when flustered, Ryuuichi was fragile.
To make matters worse, Gentarou and Koshirou piled on for fun.

“Yeah. But you can’t really pick souvenirs for that.”

“I see. So that’s why most of the ones for Ryuuichi are kind of lame.”

“Reiko-chan always puts a lot of thought into things, after all.”

“Does she? When she’s careless, she’s really careless, you know.”

“Maybe so—”

Gentarou briefly grew serious and started thinking it over.
Koshirou thought that this kind of sloppy follow-through was just like Gentarou, but being Koshirou, he didn’t bother to point it out.

And because of that looseness, Ryuuichi began to bounce back mentally. 

One of his traits was that he was resilient when it came to being teased.

“See? She’s just messing with me. That must be it!”

“Maybe. But it seems like Reiko-chan’s friends and everyone at her school are getting proper souvenirs.”

“School? She’s sending souvenirs to everyone there?”

“Yeah. Just little things, but honestly it’s the kind of thoughtfulness that makes me feel like I should learn from her.”

Perhaps because of a girl’s perspective, Youko’s eyes were serious despite her light tone.

“Speaking of souvenirs, she even sent some to Katsujirou. He was really happy about it.”

“Huh? I didn’t know that. So… I’m the only one who gets the lame stuff?”

For Gentarou it had just been a casual remark, but hearing it made Ryuuichi sink even deeper.
He was starting to think maybe this wasn’t just a joke at his expense.

Seeing that, the others exchanged glances as if asking what to do.

“S-so anyway, Ryuuichi, are you going to have an attendant starting next spring?”

Gentarou forcefully twisted the topic around on behalf of the group.
Ryuuichi turned his head with a stiff creak-like motion, but his face showed he hadn’t fully shifted gears inside.

“No, I won’t. In a few years I’ll be entering the Army Cadet School. What about you, Gentarou?”

“Father’s been nagging me about it. So the students chosen by the Ootori school will be interviewed by spring, and I’ll have about two live in with me.”

“Koshirou too?”

“Nope. I said I didn’t want any and got into a fight about it the other day. I do want lots of friends, though.”

“In my case, Father doesn’t have attendants either, and right now Reiko’s enough, isn’t she? Oh, that reminds me, Youko, you were pretty close with Reiko’s attendants, right?”

“Eh? Ah, yeah. We’re just normal friends.”

Youko seemed to have been distracted, so when she was suddenly asked her reply came out vague. Ryuuichi pressed further.

“But there’s a boy, isn’t there? Someone named Suzumiya, I think?”

“You mean Teruo-kun. He hardly talks and his reactions are dull, so I don’t really know him that well.”

“So that’s how it is? Well, I guess that’s fine. What about the others?”

He was probably bothered by the idea of a boy being around his little sister, but the way Ryuuichi quickly dropped his guard showed he was still just a kid.

“Micchan is a lively, polite, straightforward girl. Oyo-chan has pure white hair and skin, and light-colored eyes—she’s really beautiful. Reiko-chan said she looked like something out of a dream.”

“An albino, huh? That’s rare.”

“Yeah. And she’s really smart.”

“Smarter than Reiko?”

“Probably. The way she talks is very mature, and since Reiko-chan speaks freely with her, I think she’s quite something.”

Youko’s observation as she answered Gentarou was remarkably sharp.
She looked soft and fluffy on the outside, but in this respect she carried herself like a true noble.

Those of the real upper class were trained to profile someone at a glance.

“And starting next spring, it seems more will be added around those three.”

“Figures. Reiko needs guards, but since adults can’t accompany her at school, that’s the way it has to be.”

“Yeah, that’s what she said. Also, those three are going to live together at the Ootori estate starting in spring.”

“You’re well informed, Youko-chan.”

“Koshirou-kun just doesn’t listen enough.”

“Haha, maybe so. But if the three of them are going to live there, maybe I’ll live at the Ootori estate too.”

“Eh? Father would never allow that.”

At Koshirou’s words, Gentarou grew a little flustered, but Koshirou only smiled beautifully, unbothered.

“If I ask Grandfather or Great-grandfather, it’ll be fine. Father can’t go against them at all.”

Despite his angelic looks, Koshirou sometimes revealed a sly, almost devilish side.
But he only showed that when he felt it was truly necessary, so his desire to change his place of residence was quite serious.

Gentarou, as his older brother, could sense that. He let out a small sigh.

“Well, do as you like. Just don’t drag me into a fight with Father.”

“Ehh, you won’t support me?”

“I’m staying behind at home, so that should be enough.”

“Yeah, as expected of big brother.”

Koshirou’s slightly calculated mix of praise and teasing made Gentarou narrow his eyes at him in mild annoyance.

“Koshirou, you only flatter me at times like this.”

“Do I? That’s probably Reiko-chan’s role, you know.”

“Ah, you’ve got a point. That girl can be pretty over-the-top sometimes.”

“Girls have their reasons, so you can’t go prying, big brother.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. Besides, you’re happy when Reiko-chan says all those things to you anyway.”

With attacks coming from both right and left by his sister, Ryuuichi was completely overwhelmed.

Not realizing that the other two were quietly exchanging glances at how much of a sister complex he had and how he was also placed lower in the family hierarchy, which seemed quite problematic—

“T-that’s not true!”

“Ryuuichi, that’s as good as admitting it.”

“Gentarou, you’re the same kind of thing, aren’t you?!”

“W-what! D-do I look like that?”

“You do. I love Reiko-chan too. Oh, and Youko-chan as well.”

“Yes, yes. I like you too, Koshirou-kun. And as for Reiko-chan, I think the reason she acts that way is because she wants everyone to like her and to stay close with her forever.”

“Well, I feel the same way.”

“The strength of our bond is the Ootori family’s treasure.”

“Leaving out all the troublesome talk, I’m siding with Reiko-chan.”

“Well then, let’s end this here. It’s cold, so let’s head back inside.”

With those words, the children disappeared into the hotel to celebrate a quiet Christmas.