Chapter 177 – Great-Grandfather’s Funeral

Among the rites of passage, funerals are often the ones that come without warning.

My father, Kiichi, died in the Great Kantō Earthquake, so his funeral fell into that sudden category. And because society as a whole was in chaos, it seems they could only manage a lonely, modest service.

By contrast, Ootori Souichirō, already retired before I was born and known by titles like “the Old Lord of the Ootori”, died of old age, a cold being only an indirect cause. Once he reached the point where everyone knew the end was near, he departed at a moment that felt almost perfectly timed.

It was a passing that seemed to reflect both his way of life and his temperament.

Because of that, it was easier for those around him to settle their feelings, and above all, we were able to proceed with