Totally 'Tokyo Cinderella Story'
Story Delight

'... ...'

'Honestly, I've got tired of being her boyfriend!'

'... ...'

'So our deal is now settled!'

Masashi turned his vision away from Kenji, biting his teeth; he was very upset, in much grief, that his own sister would be attracted to such a person. Other than that, he was also angry at himself for not having been responsible as a brother.

Why not use the red umbrella as a symbol --.

Kikuo excitedly told Yukiko.

'For example, to say! I just found a cute girlfriend, and you also have a boyfriend, when we invite them to our home, so we hang this umbrella at the door. You should understand! When I see this umbrella hung outside at the door, for the concern of my sister's happiness, I can't help it but go outside for a while longer!'

Kikuo held the umbrella and turned it around in his hand, and couldn't help laughing about it. The red umbrella and the white towel on Hitomi's body overlapped each other, then it was Hitomi's tears ... ...

Even though they did go to the hotel, but in the end Kikuo did not have any relationship with Hitomi.

He could not do it, because Hitomi was of the same age as Yukiko, they were both twenty three years old. In his mind, he was always thinking of this matter, in the end, he could only think of Hitomi as a sister.

When Kikuo explained to Hitomi who had wrapped herself in a towel what he felt, in a rather shy manner, he added,

'I also feel it is a great pity ... ... Though I say this now, honestly, I am a little unsure ... ... But I feel you are not suitable to do this sort of thing ... ... Don't force yourself ... ...'

He just stroked Hitomi's head. With this, Hitomi started to cry, just like a tightly tied string that was broken, she cried as if releasing all her misery all at once.

'This is the first time when I was treated this way, by another person! Really shameful!'

Kikuo silently touched Hitomi who had started laughing, once again, touched her head, saying,

'Let's go home!'

Even by that last sentence, which seemed so strong, Kikuo also felt deeply moved, like the main star of the movie. It was because he could not tell Yukiko about this matter, that he felt worried.

'Remember! The red umbrella, don't forget about it!' Kikuo wanted to confirm the idea.

'I know! I know!' Yukiko answered as if she was impatient; she had taken out all the western wear from the cupboard, set them out to make a choice, she was just troubled what she should wear, what clothes would not make her seem untidy. Ever after the night since she met Masashi, every time she passed by the window of that craft stall, she would specially take a look, but every time she would take a look at the price and sigh.

Still, even though she had spent many days of preparation, at the last minute there was still no meaning after all.

Sunday. As she was preparing to approach the place they were supposed to meet, Masashi was already there. He brought Yukiko into the changing room, saying to her, 'I hope you can change what you are wearing.'

Inside the room were glamourous clothes.

'I'll like to introduce you to my father, he is at the restaurant on the top floor, so I hope you can make yourself more pretty!

He just said such a sentence, and he left the room. As Yukiko was thinking about the meaning of those words, Shinji came in a gracefu; manner. As if Masashi had just stepped out, then he had just followed at the back.

'What is he doing! So you are that country dish!' After he said such a sentence, then impolitly he gave the necklace, earrings to her. He said, 'I feel that you are not suitable for him, but I was asked to do this!'

'Country dish? What do you mean?'

'You should understand this better than I do! Because Masashi wanted to avoid the marriage his father had arranged for him, so he asked you here to act as his girlfriend. Really, it's like a child playing a marriage game'

'... ...'

After hearing those words, it was as if she had been splattered with cold water. 'Why' and 'It's really like that' the two muttering words were hitting each other, in the end still not making a sound.

Kikuo had once said 'Charity Business' these words, but, these actions were really not comparable to this.

Yukiko hid her hurt feelings with a smile, wearing the clothes she had worn when she came, walking towards the restaurant where Masashi was waiting fir her.

'I have already heard about what happened. You don't look at what I am now, but I was once the lead of a play in school! Just in that play , a story about a poor girl. For today's show, we'll just follow that storyline.'

She spoke all that in a hurry, as she was afraid that if she stopped, she would not be able to continue that smile on her face.

'But ... ...' Masashi's face was frowning, a face of difficulty.

But, it was too late, Masashi's father had already entered the restaurant. Just at that moment when he saw Yukiko, he was already having that measuring look at her, to see her value. With every step he took, that threatening feeling would increase even more. Seeing this, even Yukiko, who had been preparing herself earlier, should try her attitude immediately now, was also shivering with fear. Even so, there was no way she could escape now.

After the first moments of silence by both parties, Yukiko started talking about herself.

She said that she lived on Noto Honto, an island; and her family was in the hotel business, taking charge of a small guest house; and after she was educated at an Kanzawa Junior College, she came to Tokyo to work; in her early junior college days, she had wanted to an air stewardess or radio compere, but now she was working as an accountant at a foodstuff factory, the only proud thing was her speed at dealing with vouchers was faster than other people.

Masashi's father listened, with hardly any expression, but not until the state where he was angry or disappointed.

Yukiko said in the end,

'Just as I felt that this society had seemingly hardly any warmth, but was actually cold and unfeeling, I met him ... ... Though I know it's very easy to give up, but I simply could not forget him, so I made up my mind, plucked up my courage to come here. All because of him, right now I still feel as though I am in a dream!'

Though these words were of a forceible nature, but they were really words from her heart. She also admitted that she felt as if she was in a dream, all this was a dream.

Masashi's father silently sighed.

As Masashi drove Yukiko home, he said in a somewhat touched manner,

'How did you suddenly think of such a good story?'

Yukiko looked at the scenery outside the window , once again she murmured, 'All this is just a dream.'

'Hey!'

'Hmm?'

'That show, , is talking about a poor girl getting the help of forest goblins, in the end becoming a princess, that's the story!'

'... ...'

'The feeling of acting that show is really good!'

Yukiko silently faced that light blue glass window, softly blowing a whistle.

Masashi didn't say anything.

She got down at the same place that she left the other time. Masashi said, 'Wait for me for a while!' snd he went by himself to a nearby florist shop. After a while, he came back with a bunch of flowers.

'Just with this bunch of flowers, I know it is far from being a princess, but hope it as something to say sorry for today!'

'... ... Thank you ... ...'

'Next time when we meet, it will not be like today, I won't ask you to act such a show again!'

As these words passed into her ears, she had just used up all the energy to keep the smile on her face.

'From the start, when you were holding the red umbrella ... ... You had already planned to make use of me, is it?'

Yukiko looked directly at Masashi, Masashi did not say anything, avoiding her gaze. She did not need any answer. As soon as he started to speak, she was afraid she would become more sad.

After a moment of silence, Yukiko started to say,

'I am not acting, today, all the words I said before your dad, are all true. I really wanted to see you another time ... ... Today, wanted to see you ... ...'

Her voice gradually became vague, as Masashi wanted to open his mouth to say something, Yukiko had already turned back and gone away.

She felt that, the longer she continued staying there, face to face with Masashi, she would really couldn't control herself and start crying; she didn't want Masashi to see how she looked when she was crying.

After she returned to her apartment, she discovered an envelope in the numch of flowers. But what was inside the envelope was not an letter, but many fifteen thousand yen dollar notes -- this is what Masashi said, 'To apologize for today's matter'.

Yukiko took out the red umbrella from the shelf, hanging it at the door.

Then, cried bitterly alone in her room.

Yukiko just released her feelings and cried bitterly; when she felt better, she went out shopping, and she bought many female comics. She should have realized earlier, that those fairy tales, those romantic happenings could only happen in the world of dramas or comics; in real life there could not be any chance of it happening.

She let her eyes, which had become swollen from crying, be calmed down by the winds which had come with the morning sun, and walked all the way home. Just as she had got in, Kikuo came back home too.

'You hear what I have to say! I've found a job! It's as a swimming instructor! Who can't see that my great figure has been trained from being in the countryside; when people say Japan's Dragon, it's talking about me! As long as I don't take leave, I can earn twenty five thousand yen a month!'

'... ... Is it? ... ...'

Yukiko pretended not to pay attention. She really could not manage to smile, at first she thought she had really stopped crying, but now she still had a strong urge to cry.

Kikuo also seemed rather uncomfortable. always coughing; seems like the things he wants to say, was not only the matter of finding a job only.

After Yukiko had just asked, 'What's the matter with you?' she was mixed with Kikuo's 'That.'

'That ... ... In the afternoon, you put up the umbrella at the door!'

'... ...'

'So you made me become stuck outside, not being able to come in.'

'But ... ... that was your idea!'

'Who came? Is it that if I am here, it is not too good? Who would it be? Hmm ... ... Don't tell me you just made a boyfriend, is that right?'

'It's not my boyfriend! It's my colleague!'

'Then why do you need to put the umbrella there?'

'... ... Because that colleaguue, she fell in love with a guy, should be said that she was strongly attracted by him! But, the other party had no feelings for her at all, so she was left behind, she was very sad ... ... So she cried ... ... That colleague ... ...'

Though she was very careful of what she was saying, but, when she got to the end, she could not help putting some of her feelings into the situation.

Still, Kikuo didn't notice it, he was not a sensitive person.

'Oh, so it's like that!' He completely believed what Yukiko was saying, so he let out a sign of sympathy. 'Your colleague is really pitiful! Next time let's invite her to our home! We'll invite her to a dinner!'

'... ... Yes ... ...'

'If you have a guy you like, don't keep it in your heart, you must tell me, you know! Don't hide alone in a corner and cry!'

'... ... I know ... ...'

'All right, since it's like that, I can put my mind at rest!' Kikuo suddenly did some exercise on the floor, saying, 'Now I am starting my exercise for tomorrow's lesson! Butterfly Stroke!'

He started to move his body.

Seeing his action, even Yukiko who wanted to start crying again, also started smiling at the moment.

'Since now you have work to do, you can think about moving out!'

'There's no need to!I can just live here! Even if I sleep in the toilet, it's all right!'

'But ... ...'

'We're brother and sister, there's no need to live apart! Anyway I also have a responsibility to look after you, what happens if you are tricked by any bad guy?'

'But, this place is so small ... ...'

'Why are you so polite with me?' He turned his body, again changed to forward stroke.

'Is it because you don't have money to pay the rent? Then how about if I help you ask Mother to help you think of an idea? Why don't I try helping you call Mother now ... ...'

As she had finished saying those words, she was about to start using the phone.

'Stop! Don't call and talk about money matters!'

Kikuo suddenly came up, saying those words very seriously. This was the first time he had that serious look, since he had come to Tokyo.

'It's Daddy who told me not to mention it to you.' With these words as the starting point, Kikuo, at the end, let out a sigh, and put a full stop to the conversation.

The guest house at home had come to bankruptcy. Because near the sea, sunce a big new hotel resort had opened, no more customers came, there was no business and finally the business had to end. There were still a lot of debts, it had beem owned when they had renovated the hotel some time ago and borrowed from the bank. Their father had a serious case of mental illness, so was unable to go out to work, their mother's heart was also not very good.

The reason Kikuo came to Tokyo, was not only as his life's last chance. Why he had made up his mind to come to Tokyo, was to earn some money at this place, to think of ways, to earn more money to send back to their parents.

Kikuo used a very serious tone, facing Yukiko, who was shocked and sad, said,

'So, if we live together, we can save some living expenses, we must send some money back to Father and Mother!'

Yukiko silently nodded her head, she could only do so.

That night, when her brother had fallen asleep, Yukiko secretly tried to make a call home.

Her mother's voice, was still as lively as usual.

'The uncle living behind us, just sent us some potatoes, I had just been preparing to some to the two of you!'

She did not say anything about the difficulties at home, making Yukiko worried.

Not just so, her mother even said some encouraging words, 'Yukiko, Mother is always thinking about you being alone outside, you are different from Kikuo, whenever you have something on your mind, you will only hide it inside you. If you ever meet any difficulty, don't burden yourself, you must tell Mother! At that moment, Mother will fly to Tokyo to be by your side!'

Mother really knew her so well.

In the end, the result was that she did not say any words of encouragement or consolation to her Mother. After she had hung up the phone, she thought it was better that she didn't say that; this sudden happiness, sudden sadness feeling, was still fighting in her heart.

The next day, Yukiko was determined to between her and Masashi. She could not accept the money, once she did accept the money, her plight would become even worse. She decided to return the money, restart her life, which had nothing to do with fairy tales or romantic incidents. So, she made a call to Masashi.

'Please tell me your bank account number, I want to return the money to you!'

If she met with him in person, maybe her determination would be shaken, this was her weakest part.

'You don't need to return those money!'

'No, I'll return the money through the bank! I called you just because of this!'

'... ... Tomorrow night, seven o'clock, I'll wait for you at the spot where I waited for you yesterday!'

Her heart's balance started shaking again, Yukiko quickly tried to put it straight again, saying, 'I think, even if I don't meet you, I'll also be able to return the money to you!' But, there was still no change in Masashi's voice.

'Tomorrow night seven o'clock, I'll wait for you at the place I waited for you yesterday!'

'I must return the money to you! If I cannot use the bank account transference method, then it's also all right to use the registered mail method!'

'I'll wait for you!'

'... ...'

'I'll wait until you come.'

'... ...'

It was Masashi who hung up the phone first, in the earphone there was the continous sound of 'beep -- beep --'

When I see him, I'm going to use the method of that guy on tv, (add: the detective, in charge of getting rid of the bad guys) causing the other party to fall, saying loudly, 'Hey, you don't look down on people!', then looking at the bad guy who was in much fear, leaving bravely ... ... Yukiko was thinking, would she be able to do that? If she couldn't, what could she do? She was again angry at her weakness.

What was worse,that day, she simply forgot to bring the most important envelope. What was her weakness from young to now, was that at the most important moment, she would really forget entirely about the most important matter.

As she faced the danger of getting a scolding from her supervisor for refusing to overwork, she hurriedly came back home. After that, she saw Kikuo happily standing at the door to welcome her, saying to her, 'Sister, you have come home! You are really filial!'

'I'm really touched! You are really such a good daughter! I was just saying, and you immediately prepared it, Father and Mother will be really happy!'

'Brother! Don't tell me ... ... You took the envelope I placed on the dressing table and ... ...'

'You don't worry! I didn't use a cent, I just sent the money over as it was!'

'... ...'

There was really no time. Yukiko was in a fluster, only said 'I'm going out for a while!' then rushed out the door.

Going back home after work, she had already wasted a lot of time, followed by the changing of bus transport to the transit system, which was not on time; when she reached the place where they had arranged to meet, it was already half past seven.

I could have not gone to meet him! She murmured to herself. She had no money to return him, and this meeting had been arranged by his own idea, not hers ... ... Anyway, he will probably not wait for thirty minutes ... ...'

Even so, after Yukiko reached the station, she still ran frantically.

Masashi was still waiting, lonely at the spot.

'Sorry!'

After Yukiko saw him, she just spoke this in a rush, for half, it was to apologize for being late, for half, it was to apologize for not bringing the money. As she said those words, and explaining clearly what happened, she had already lost her stand.Masashi, still smiling, said,

'I have already booked a place at the restaurant, let's go!'

'... ... But ... ...'

'Haven't you already used up the money? So you'll have to accompany me now!'

'... ...'

Yukiko could not help it, she had to talk herself into going to the restaurant with Masashi. She thought, I will not use that look of expectation again, with that high sense of yearning, that should not be so!

'This store, I used to come here often with my sister!'

Masashi used a voice that was full of memory's view, looking at every object in the restaurant; influenced by his emotions, Yukiko's vision also followed his view.

'When I was still studying, I often met my sister at this place, then the two of us would have our dinner here.'

In his voice, there were memories mixed with a sense of loneliness. Yukiko finally remembered the matter of his sister leaving home.

'I've forgotten when was the time, that I once made my sister angry here.'

'... ...'

'She said that I, as a brother, couldn't understand what other people were thinking, and also didn't want to understand.'

'Hurting you that day, really made me feel bad. The reason I came to meet you today ... ... is really to say sorry!'

Once again Masashi looked at Yukiko, she couldn't avoid his look, at the moment when their four eyes met, her heartbeat started to quicken again. She thought she really could not really forget her feelings for him, her feelings at that moment, rather than saying it was very troubled, it might as well said to be of relief.

After finishing dinner, as the two of them walked towards the carpark to take a ride in the car that was waiting there, Masashi tried to find out her phone number.

'Why must I really need to tell you?' She could speak in a clear minded way now, cold minded, asking. Still, Masashi spoke in an unafraid manner,

'Because, just with merely me waiting for your call, it is really too lonely!'

Just at this moment, the balance inside Yukiko's heart was starting to unbalance again, until it couldn't back to its original position. But, just because of this, she started to feel uneasy. She had once gave up hope, treating all this as a dream, but now ... ...

'Why ... ... Such a person like me ... ... When you are with me, you don't gain in anything ... ...'

Yukiko didn't notice, in Masashi's smile, there was a shadow. She really had not time to notice, if she didn't say any words to belittle herself, she would lose the feeling of reality, and would wrongly think she was dreaming.

'Such a person like me, is really a useless person, I don't have any special interests, and I also don't know how to say cute words, being with me, don't you find it boring? In comparision with me, such a boring woman, there must be many ... ...'

'Enough!'Masashi used a very unhappy expression and tone, cutting her off.

Why? As she was thinking about the reason, Masashi had already stopped walking.

'I'll take a cab back! Having you to accompany me, I'm really sorry!'

'... ...'

'I am unable to like a person who looks down on herself!'

He used his eyes to direct the driver who was opening the door, then turned back and left. To Masashi's sudden change in behavior, Yukiko could only stand dumbfounded at the spot there.

Once she had taken a seat inside the car, inside her heart, there started to emerge every bit of regret. What Masashi had said was absolutely correct, why must she have this attitude? The regret in her heart started to become self-hate. She should have continued to be firm in her attitude, but in reality, it was far from her wish. This was the thing that made her feel most unhappy.

She should have been more firm, at least she should try once ... ...

Yukiko took her handkerchief, and quietly put it on the seat. On the corner of the handkerchief, there was her name and telephone number. The thrifty habit was helpful to her, she could finally show a slightly tolerant smile.

At the other side, Masashi, who was waiting for an empty cab, had also fallen into a deep mood of regret and self-hate.

He felt that he was showing his anger to other people.

In the day, the words his father had spoken were still circling around in his mind, it just wouldn't go away.

'Even if you want to get married, you must find a girl that I will be satisfied with to see me. That girl called Matsui, not even has high education or upbringing, her family is also not good. Even if you want to play, there should be better girls than her! Like that girl who dosen't fit into society, I would rather you don't see her!'

To his father's words, he could not say anything to rebutt them. Not just that, his father even decided on his marriage to Kanzaki Hatsue for him. That action further made him more determined to see Yukiko.

'Do you understand? For the company's sake, this marriage cannot be rejected, no matter what happens.'

'... ... Then, about Hitomi's matter, what do you say?'

'I told others that she had gone overseas to study, so you don't make things difficult!'

'Is this also in the company's consideration? Or for your own dignity?'

Masashi could understand, this sentence, to his father, was a ridicule. His parents' marriage had not come out of love, but, it was for the company's benefit, so the two became a pair. If not for this reason, Hitomi would not have left home. But, his father's answer was rather straightforward.

'For both reasons!'

From the way he spoke, it seemed as if he was asking a needless question.

He would like to tell his father all about Hitomi and her boyfriend living together, but, when he thought of the end, his father would say, 'So what? I really don't recognize this daughter anymore!' The result would always be like that. His father's general attitude was like that, being cold and through, shrews and competent, haughty and arrogant ... ... still, facing such a father, Masashi had no strength to strike back against him.

As Yukiko climbed up the stairs to her apartment, she happened to see Kikuo just preparing to hang the red umbrella at the door.

'Wait ... ... Wait a while, Brother! It's so late already, where do you want me to go?'

Yukiko hurriedly ran forward, but Kikuo's very surprised expression was clearly more than that of hers, he blocked Yukiko's front, as if he didn't want her to see the situation inside.

'Who came?'

'Nobody came! It's that ... Ha Ha!'

From Kikuo's rigid smile, at the back, came a sound.

'What happened? Kikuo!'

It was the voice of a young girl --.

It was Hitomi.

'She had a fight with her room mate, so she came out! Actually she did not know our residence number, she only remembered that I said I lived nearby ... ... I even asked her, if she couln't find me, what would she do? In the end she just said that she would continue looking, until she found me! Someone came to ask me for help, so I cannot let her wander outside in the night, right?'

'My room mate works at the same shop as me!'

As Hitomi said those words, Kikuo hurriedly said something, 'Yes, yes, it is the Nippon food store!' Yukiko cut in with a smile, 'It should be the Japanese food store right?' This time it was Hitomi who used an uncaring tone, 'None of them, it's a bar!'

'... ... Bar ... ...'

'I got to know Kikuo there!'

Oh, this was bad! Kikuo looked as if he intended to avoid Yukiko's gaze, turning his body to one side. Still, there wasn't any sign of anger on Yukiko's face, because she didn't understand the happennings of the whole incident. She only looked at graceful Hitomi that was sitting there, feeling that they were very compatible. From her, there seemed to be some beauty that she released, that Yukiko lacked. That was enthusiasm and strength.

Yukiko's impression of her, was at least better than when she had first met Kikuo's previous girlfriend. The most important reason was, that matter of Kikuo's girlfriend was all his teribble big lie, but the two in front of her eyes, was really the real thing. Not sure if Kikuo was trying to hide his shyness, but he started talking about Yukiko's childhood embarassment.

'This girl, when she was in school, once fell into the mud beside the corn field! Hitomi, such a person like you, you probably don't know about mud right? That is waste, a pit filled by waste, this girl was covered all over with waste, if I didn't go in and rescue her, she would have been drowned in the waste. Ha Ha Ha!'

Hitomi started to show some uncontrollable smiles; Yukiko could only listen to it, but could not say anything, without any anger. She clearly understood Kikuo's personality; as soon as he underwent any pressure, he would suddenly become obscene, no different from a kid in kindergarden.

At that moment, the phone rang.

The one who answered the phone, was none other than Kikuo.