Totally 'Tokyo Cinderella Story'
Story Delight

'I just don't want to accept your alms!'

Hitomi took her hand away from Masashi, so the pay bag fell to the floor. Hitomi turned a blind eye to it, and continued glaring at Masashi, talking incessantly,

As to why I broke up with Kenji, it's all your fault! It's all because you gave him money, that's why he can't brace himself up, isn't it?'

Masashi slowly picked up the pay bag, then, in a rather flat, business like tone, said,

'I cannot spend all day, all twenty four hours; worrying about your matters, even if I really want to do something for you, what I can do is still very limited. As to why I give him money, partly it's because he asked for it, partly it was because I thought that, by this action, it would be of help to you. If it was because of this, that made him lose his indepependence, then he is just a fool with no spirit!' Once again, he just roughly stuffed the envelope bag to Hitomi. 'You don't need to return me any more money! Since you have broken up with him, you don't need to mention this matter anymore.'

Hitomi lowered her head, accepting the envelope bag. 'Yes! About Kenji's matter, I have already ... ...' She said in a muttering tone, then she raised her face. 'Now, Kikuo and me ... ...'

Masashi cut her words, showing a self-mocking, forced smile; 'Whoever you like is all right, just don't be like me, so undecided; then it's all right!'

Looking at Masashi's back, as he was leaving; Hitomi, in a rather teary voice, said,

'Brother! Who do you actually place your heart on? Didn't you tell me, you wouldn't let her down?'

'Even if I tell you, you won't understand!'

'The one who dosen't know is you! Brother! Even you, yourself; you don't even understand your own intentions! You only regard Yukiko as ... ...'

'I like her!'

Masashi suddenly turned back, saying, as if in a crying out tone; just revealing his feelings, in this way. Hitomi was shocked by this sudden move, and could not help being stunned for the moment.

Still--.

Even though Masashi really loved Yukiko, he could not show his feelings in a concrete way of behavior.

'... ... I really love her, sincerely ... ...'

Masashi's tone of speech suddenly took a change, turning to a moaning one, saying. But, he was unable to follow his speech, after that, he really could not say anything anymore.

'It's too late! Because Yukiko has already become determined to forget you! You cannot tell her that you like her, it is all too late!'

Masashi did not reply, he only took his stride forward, he did not turn back or stop his footsteps.

On that night, Masashi made a date with Misaki; meeting her at the hotel bar. Masashi arrived a little later than the agreed time, when Misaki saw him, she immediately greeted him with a smile. From a bystander's view, maybe they would rather, as a matter of course, view them as a pair of lovers, or couple. But, Masashi did not take a seat, he kept a rather displeased look, lightly putting the ring on the table, that was the wedding ring that Misaki had taken off.

'This is something you forgot to bring back.'

'... ...'

'I am wrong, I should have made it clear to you earlier, I do not intend to make it up with you.'

The smile still remained on Misaki's face, she took hold of the ring.

'I also don't intend to be on relations with him, I already don't need this any more.' The ring fell into the glass, which held the whisky.

'I have already had my divorce with him, so, there are already no problems ... ...'

'We had better not meet again!'

'Why?'

'I don't want to hurt my girlfriend again!'

'... ...'

'You only realised this point at this moment, you're really poor!'

For this matter, it could only be blamed on himself, Misaki did not do anything wrong, maybe she is also one of the victims! He suddenly felt that way.

The fairy tale has ended, what's left is only to forget it all.

Yukiko, while passing the days, also kept telling herself that.

But still, the story had its unexpected developments.

A call from their home, had Yukiko and Masashi's rope of fate; which had almost been cut off, connected once again.

Yukiko's mother decided to go ahead with the operation, and it was also quite a difficult heart operation.

'I would like to transfer your mother to a hospital in Tokyo, there is a surgeon there who is a famous heart disease authority, I would like to ask him to treat your mother; to attend to her case. Because, after all, an operation of the heart is a rather big operation.'

Before her father had called her, he had probably had some deep struggle in his heart! He was afraid that his determination would be wavered, so he just expressed his wish in a few words.

'... ... Is Mother's condition so bad? ... ...'

'So, can you ask someone to help? Without a letter of recommendation, the doctor will not look at our case immediately.'

'... ...'

'Didn't you tell us before? The director from Takagi Corporation is your friend, right? Why don't you help Father to make my request?'

'... ...'

Yukiko understood her father's personality; even if to his own daughter, he would not easily request her to do anything for him. Just because of this, she could feel, more deeply, of how helpless her father felt at the moment.

Yukiko ignored her hesitation, taking up the receiver of the phone.

At the time when she was dialling the number, she suddenly had a surprising thought, maybe, just because she had found an excuse, so that she could rightfully call Masashi, so, she was overjoyed, maybe! Of course, she felt like doubting the fact, but, she had no confidence, firmly and resolutely, to say to herself, 'There is no such thing!' This was the point that made her sad. The number that she was dialling, nor was it his handphone number, it was also not his home number. She really made a call to his company to look for him, the one who answered the phone was Shinji. 'I beg you, I need to meet him!' She used a rather forced voice, to ask for his help. Anyway, the request was already asked for, even if it was looked down upon by people, it was also all right.

Shinji used a rather demeaning tone, telling her Masashi's reply. 'Before the meeting starts, he still has some time, so he is able to meet you.' With his scornful laughter, he hung up the phone, not even giving Yukiko time to be annoyed.

Masashi appeared in the coffee place near his workplace, he seemed to have become much thinner.

From the time they had come to know each other, she had always felt that, there was an invisible wall between them. By now, she finally realized, deeply, that, Masashi and herself, were almost like two people from two different worlds; suddenly meeting by chance.

After she had told him briefly, her reason for meeting him, Masashi did not have any reaction.

'Other than helping you to recommend the doctor, is there any way I can be of help to you?'

His expression, which brimmed of true speech and example; did not give any hint of hypocriticism, or an act of putting on airs and graces. He was a really good person! Yukiko murmured such a sentence in her heart. But, following that, she made a slight correction, should be a really good person, then that's correct.

'That surgeon is my father's long time good friend, there shouldn't be any big problem! I will just pass my greetings to the hospital, you can leave it to me, you don't need to worry!'

'Yes ... ...' After all the anxiety had been removed, she could finally show a smile. 'Mr Takagi, you are really a great person!'

'This is only a small matter, there's nothing much!' Masashi also showed a disturbed smile. But, Yukiko shook her head, saying, 'To me, it is a very important matter!' She suddenly felt that, this was the first time, that she made herself understand an important matter of fact -- they are two persons, living in two completely different worlds. At the end, Yukiko also said such a phrase to him.

'Earlier on, I did feel that, Mr Takagi could stand at the same position as I am, together with me, chatting about the same topic. But, now, to me, it seems so very much impossible; I know that, only at this point, do I realize this truth, it's rather strange, but ... ... I am still, very much in gratitude for your help.'

[Help] and [Love] are very different, it was only until now, that she suddenly come to this realization. It was lucky that they had met today, she could finally come to some clear management of her emotions.

Masashi hurriedly called back Yukiko, who was planning to leave.

Still, even when Masashi had called her back, he still could not say anything to her. With much difficulty, he finally forced out a phrase, with a little voice; from the depths of his throat, saying, 'Hope your mother's operation can go on successfully!'

Masashi can draw the boundry with Misaki, maintaining a distance; but, turning to Kanzaki Hatsue, he was helpless.

Also, in addition to Mr Takagi and Shinji, who seemed to have great interest, and were encouraging the proceeding of the matter; they always increasing the chance of him meeting Hatsue. Even a family dinner reception, held at the home, held for attending to customers' needs, she was there. Her reason was 'Your father told me to come and help,' Of course, she would not bring any hinderence, rather, because she was excellent in English conversation, and also proficient in all kinds of sports; so, she was excellent in the role as a dinner hostess. In other words, she was the best candidate for that role, as the wife of the director.

The problem was ... ... This was the only big problem, that was, Masashi himself, did not want to marry her.

After the family dinner reception, Masashi could not help telling Hatsue,

'I am making use of you; it is only for the company's sake, that I am maintaining this ambigious relationship with you, do you think that, getting married with such a man, you will be happy?'

After Hatsue heard that, at first, she could not help smiling; following that, her smile turned to a forced one, 'I thought what you must want to talk to me about, so it's this! Then, without hesitation, she added a phrase, 'Getting married with you, there are also many benefits for me! So, I will definitely be happy.'

'... ... Even if I have a new love, will you feel the same way? Honestly, I have never thought of getting married with you.'

'Is that person better than me?'

'That is not where the problem lies, I am just telling you my true intention.'

'... ... I understand. I will leave now ... ...'

It was really Hatsue's way, she deliberately used a dejected manner to say goodbye, then shw walked out of the room. Masashi took a rather self-reprochful look at her, watching her leave, with her shadow.

Still, after she had left the apartment, Hatsue, who had gone into the cab, immediately changed her expression; you could not see any hint of that expression, that she had held when she left Masashi; that look of distress that she had held. The cab just proceeded straight on, to the hotel in the city central; during the journey, she made a call using her handphone, and got to know that her [Companion] had already checked in.

'It's really troubling you! But, Hey! It's not getting married with the man you love, and see, you are holding on to it so eagerly!' That [Companion] just said that, than he gave a rather wide smile.

'Of course I like him! He is Takagi Corporation's Director!'

'Oh! You just relax! That Takagi fellow won't dare to go against his father's command, in the end, he will still behave in the right manner, and agree to marry you!'

'I'm not worried! Rather, it's you who should take more caution; after I get married with Masashi, you must not betray me, hmm!'

Still, with Hatsue's words, it could not help make her [Companion] smile again. From the view of the windows of the hotel, there appeared a view of the night scene, vaguely, you could see the back of someone, holding a handset and talking, that cold hearted, unfeeling, contour angled face, was none other than Shinji.

He wanted to see her, but yet, could not meet up with her. Kikuo finally thought of an idea to solve this problem, it was using the already old fashioned way, of exchanging diaries.

Of course, it was Kikuo who first started it, he wrote a piece, which was not like a dairy or a love letter, tightly filled up, full of emotional compositions; then, he went to Hitomi's apartment to look for her.

But, when he passed the diary to her, in front, at Hitomi's door, even though Hitomi kept asking him to come in, but, he still kept insisiting not to go in. He told Hitomi, 'We should use this time, when we cannot meet each other; to cultivate our feelings for each other, today, I have just come specially to pass this diary to you, to let you see it!'

'Kikuo, you are really upright, until an unbelievable stage!' Hitomi said, with a surprised look.

'... ... Do you hate it?' Kikuo said, with an uneasy expression, that appeared instantly.

'Of course not!' Hitomi shook her head, with a wide smile appaearing on her face, saying, 'I like it very much!'

When Kikuo heard that, he immediately had a big blush on his face, until he walked out to the pathway, outside the apartment, his face was still red.

Just at this moment, Kenji was walking over quite leisurely. When he noticed Kikuo, he just forthrightly, waved and made a call to him. 'Hey!' He was stroking his hair, and also saying to him,

'So her new boyfriend is you!'

'The next, following the next, the third, is still me!' Kikuo said, in an rather unhappy manner. But, in the end, he still added one phrase, 'Maybe!' That was his kind part. Kenji also used his chin, pointing towards Hitomi's apartment, with a helpless look.

'Is all going on well?'

'Oh, there are some small troubles! About my sister and my mother's matters ... ... Stop being troublesome! Why do I have to tell you everything, bit by bit!'

Let it be! Kenji shrugged his shoulders, from the pockets of his jeans, he took out some keys.

'I have come to return her the keys!'

'Specially?'Once again, Kikuo felt uncomfortable. 'Because of this, so you came for this purpose?''

'I'll just pass this to you! If you are staying with her.'

Kenji let go of the keys in his hand, Kikuo hurriedly use both of his hands to take hold of them. It could not be seen which person, which guy, was the one who had been cast aside.

But, when Kenji saw the keys falling in Kikuo's hand, his expression suddenly became very serious.

'You better not leave her alone, she is a very lonely person!'

'I'm the one who's lonely!'

'You will have no problems! You are different from me!'

'Yes, you should also change your state of mind, try hard to look for a new love, hmm!'

Kikuo showed a gracious smile. He suddenly thought, Kenji and he could be said to be in the same camp, after all, the two of them were in love with the same woman.

'I still feel that it's better to cut your hair, hmm!'

'So Hitomi ... ... I'll leave her to you ... ...'

'... ...'

As Masashi had said, he did make arrangements very quickly, the date for the operation and the procedures of the admission to the hospital, for Yukiko's mother.

Yukiko explained to Kikuo, all this was by her reuesting the help of a colleague, her method of help. Then, she used an even more relaxed manner, saying to her father, 'Never mind! Never mind! He is the director of Takagi Corporation, it was me, who asked him, in a rather difficult manner!'

Yukiko's mother and father; for the fees they incurred to travel to Tokyo, the operation, and other miscellaneous fees; it was raised by Yukiko and Kikuo, who requested their companies to prepay their salaries. They would be like them showing their filial obedience to their parents, for them; who were showing constant anxiety for Yukiko and Kikuo, other than getting the most complete treatment, they could also rest peacefully in the hotel, and would not need to sleep on the sofa in the ward.

Probably it was Masashi, who could understand the uneasy feelings of Yukiko's mother, most likely! He specially arranged for her to stay in a single ward.

Yukiko's mother, who had come to Tokyo some days before the operation, looked as though she was thinner by quite a circle. Not even were there many wrinkles on her face, deeper; but, even when she was relaxing, and breathing deeply, it would give others a feeling of helplessness.

Once Yukiko's mother lied down on the bed, she immediately said, prudently,

'... ... How should we thank Mr Takagi ... ...'

Those at her bedside who heard those words, were not only Yukiko, but, Kikuo was also present.

'You lied to me again!'

'I only asked for his help, there's nothing much!'

'If that is so, why did you hide it from me! There's nothing much to hide!'

'Now, it's not the time to discuss such matters!'

'... ...'

Even though Kikuo kept his mouth shut, his eyes did not stop staring at Yukiko. He did know that this vicious air was not good to his mother's heart, but, he just could not resolve his feelings.

When Kikuo was being urged by his father, and went out with very unwillingly; Yukiko, who still stayed in the ward, gave a false smile to her mother.

'Mother! Sorry! At this time, the two of us are still arguing. But, you don't need to take it to heart, siblings arguing is just like an ordinary meal!'

'Kikuo is just like your father, just getting angry over minor things!'

'Then I am like Mother, very strong at heart!'

The two of them smiled, until it seemed rather clumsy.

'Yukiko?'

'Hmm?'

'... ... You are here, making arrangements everywhere, it must be tough for you! Thank you!'

The two of them looked at each other, Yukiko was trying hard to control her tears, shaking her head. After that, the two of them did not say anything anymore, only looking at the celing, blindly.

On the day of the operation, from the afternoon, it had already started snowing, it was this year's first season of snow.

'Do you know? The first day that Father came to know Mother, it was on a day when it was snowing!' The two of them were sitting on the long bench, just outside the operation room, and Kikuo was telling Yukiko.

'Is that so?' Yukiko was sipping the coffee that Kikuo had bought for her, their father, who had just been walking to and fro, outside the operation room, and had been going to the gents again and again, not sure for how many times.

'It's Mother who liked Father, who was her senior! So, during the journey, when school was over, she would deliberately drop her gloves before Father.'

'Did Mother really do that?'

'Yes! To use a present espression, it's just like the opposite, Mother was wooing Father!'

'Mother was already very strong!'

'If you ever meet a man like Father, you must be strong willed, and show your dominance on him.'

'I wouldn't do this sort of thing ... ...' Yukiko's false smile melted, with the hot air of the coffee.

'You really lose out to Mother! You're not strong at all!'

Kikuo used his finger, slowing tapping the paper cup, where he had just finished drinking.

It's probably so! Once again, Yukiko sipped another mouthful of coffee.

'You have already asked for someone's help, how can I help with that! But, I tell you, I will not forgive him, still.'

'... ... Hmm ... ...'

She saw that, on the walkway, the snowflakes were flying about, everywhere. But, she thought in her heart, the snow would probably accumulate to quite a large amount, probably! The snow here was different from the one at Yukiko's home, the snow that would fall to the floor, without much effort, would have all melted. Just looking at this type of snow, she had seen it for three years.

Until evening, snow was still falling.

At the moment, Masashi was just looking; in a rather helpless manner, at the snow outside. Just now, his father had just given him the last reminder. He said that Hatsue's father hoped that they would give him, a clear and definite answer, when they could the wedding party. Masashi felt that he had no chance to turn back now, he could only continue motioning forward; it was only that way, he didn't know if there was any happiness in it, maybe it didn't matter anymore!

The phone rang.

With some kind of premonition, Masashi picked up the phone.

His premonition was indeed accurate.

'... ... I am Matsui ... ...'

It was Yukiko's voice. She had just said such a sentence, and Masashi immediately asked her, 'How is the situation?' He could feel, Yukiko, at the other side of the phone, must be feeling a little surprised.

'It's the doctor who told me, he said your mother is having the operation today, am I right?'

'... ... I didn't call you specially to tell you about this matter ... ...'

'Was the operation successful?'

'... ... Thanks to Mr Takagi's blessing, the operation was completed successfully. Thank you! I would really like to express my gratitude ... ... I am making a call to you, only to thank you ... ...'

The line was suddenly disconnected. Her voice, at the end of the call, was almost close to muffles; she was probably afraid that, at one moment, she would not be able to control her tears, so she hanged up the phone, probably! At this moment, Yukiko, with her totally miserable appearance, suddenly appeared clearly before his eyes.

From the distance to the near part, probably because it was snowing, he found that the street had, almost delicately, twisted in shape, different from it's normal one.

Just below the complex.

Inside the telephone booth.

He saw a red umbrella.

It was Yukiko.

Masashi rushed out of the director's office, he did not have any thoughts in his mind, but he just allowed his body move, out of his own free will.

Probably he could make it! When he went into the lift, the above thought slowly became the prayer in his heart.

Yukiko was not in the phone booth, he passed through the crowds. I want to see her, I want to see Yukiko. He put his full attention into running, just letting the snowflakes slowly touching his face, fluttering by his the boundry of his eyes, wetting his eyelids.

That red umbrella. Masashi continued running, he was looking for that, somewhat old and torn, but, the only red umbrella, that was most unforgettable to him.

Finally, he found the red umbrella in the garden.

Hearing the footsteps that came from afar, the person holding the red umbrella slowly turned back.

'... ... Mr Takagi ... ...'

Just at the moment when she said those words in a murmur, her tear drops slowly rolled down from her face. Just like the tight strings being torn apart at a sudden moment, she started wailing bitterly.

Masashi slowly walked near Yukiko.

... ... I like you ... ...

With thoughts full of love, but he just could not say anything. He did not know if Yukiko could hear the voice inside his heart. Still, Yukiko could understand the feelings he had.

The umbrella fell from Yukiko's hand.

The two shadows in the dawn, became one body.

The white snow slowly dropped on the red umbrella, one, two; just like white petals.

The operation of Yukiko's mother went on successfully and peacefully; after the operation, the situation of the recovery of her body also went on quite smoothly, so she could only be discharged as scheduled. After she was discharged, she would only need to go for regular check-ups and treatment at the local hospital.

After Yukiko had experienced the series of incidents that had happened around her, which produced such a major impact; by now she should be able to enjoy days of peace, hopefully!

Still, on the day of discharge, the two who came foward to send off them on their journey back; (Yukiko's mother and father were just preparing their luggage back home) Kikuo and Yukiko, (Especially Kikuo) all because of an umexpected phrase of words, had to sink once again into a predicament filled with distress.

That was all because of their father's thought of starting the hotel business again.

'An association has agreed to sponsor us, so I have decided to try hard again and see!'

Yukiko's mother, who was standing beside him, also looked at him with trust, then telling them, 'This is all thanks to your father, it was all because of your father bowing to them, asking for help, so the other party agreed!'

'What! Father! I didn't know that you even have that clever way of speech! Bad of you! Normally it's even hidden'

Kikuo had a cheerful look, using his hand to push up his father for a while, but still, their father, without changing his expression, said, 'I still haven't finished what I wanted to say!'

'What words?' Yukiko asked.

By just opening up the guest house, we won't be able to survive, so I have also taken up the job of producing oysters.'

'Wait a minute, Father! This is probably too tiring for you! You are quite old already ... ...'

When their father found that Kikuo could not see the real situation, he slowly slowed a unbelieving expression.

'It's not me doing the work, it's you!'

'Me?'

'I hope you can use the free time during your production of oysters, to help me manage the guest house. I cannot possibly ask your mother to do that!'

'... ...'

'Kikuo! Please come back!'

'... ...'

After Kikuo heard that, he could only have his mouth slightly open, in a dumbfounded manner. Only when they had sent them off at the Tokyo railway station, you still could not see him recover from the shock.

'Sometimes you want me to be like that, sometimes you want me to be otherwise, he is just treating me as an airmail dove! I have already reached the age where I would be able to differentiate right and wrong, do I still need to change my life based on my parent's wishes?'

'Then you must be staying in Tokyo then?'

After such a question from Yukiko, followed by her saying angrily, 'Don't tell me you have the heart to just leave them alone like this?'

'So that means you have to go back, right?'

At the moment, Kikuo could not say anything. Actually, Yukiko could understand his feelings at that moment, very well. Because, if it was in her position, her reaction would be the same as Kikuo now, probably!

'... ... Anyway, I would probably need to go back sooner or later, because I'm the elder male descendent of the Matsui family, I have this responsibility.' After Kikuo had forced himself to find a reason, to convince himself; he turned and said to Yukiko, 'Yes, how about you, the elder daughter? Have you already recovered from the anguish of the big rebuff in love?'

'Big rebuff in love?'

'It's ... ... Isn't there a tall tree over there?'

'You are talking about Mr Takagi? Ah ... ... I have already forgotten about that person!'