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墨書 Inktalez
The heavy snow howled like a rush hour traffic jam, quietly passing through this unusually warm winter. The expressway on the outskirts of Fukushō County was already lined with long queues. At that moment, Sakuma seemed a bit disoriented as he watched Keiko lift his arm. He felt as if he were a package being hoisted up and tossed into the car, all while his mother-in-law's back receded, her words lost to him.
"Honestly, Fukushō never used to have snow like this," Nobu no Suke said, gripping the steering wheel. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he pulled out a cigarette and cracked the window slightly.
"I'm really sorry," he added.
Nobu no Suke lit the cigarette, and Nishijo in the passenger seat nodded with a smile.
Keiko sat beside Sakuma, pulling a thermometer from his mouth. It seemed that the ice pack she had brought could not contain the feverish heat mingling with the cold. The mercury hovered between 39 and 40 degrees, prompting Keiko to shake her head slightly.
"So this is what infatuation can do to someone!"
Just as Keiko was about to tidy up her things, she felt a cold yet exerting hand cover her right hand. Surprised, she turned back to see Sakuma seemingly opening his eyes slightly, mumbling something.
"Nishijo Auntie."
The two people in the front seat turned abruptly.
"Almost... forty... degrees."
Nishijo gasped; the traffic jam ahead stretched at least a hundred meters long.
"Nobu no Suke, how much longer until we reach the hospital in Fukushō?"
"About half an hour," Nobu no Suke replied, gripping the steering wheel. He turned back after a moment of silence, only to see Nishijo's hand resting firmly on the passenger side handle.
"Home! We're not going to the hospital anymore."
Keiko and Sakuma exchanged incredulous glances at the sudden decision made by Sakuma's mother-in-law, both falling silent for a moment.
Perhaps it was the sudden rise in temperature that left Sakuma gazing dreamily at Keiko, who was hugging her arms—no! Perhaps it was the spirit of Wen Liang possessing Keiko, making Sakuma unwilling to let go of her arm even while speaking nonsense.
This commotion caused Nishijo's previously smiling face to tense up abruptly. What should they do about this child?
"Wen Liang, are we... are we home?"
The car fell into an immediate silence.
Keiko quickly looked up at Nishijo, as if understanding something from his gaze. She lowered her head and gently stroked Sakuma's hair.
"You silly, you're right at home."
Sakuma didn't continue speaking, but the grip of his arms loosened, no longer holding on like a vice.
At that moment, with his eyes slightly open, Sakuma seemed to be transported back to the time of the accident, on a certain expressway in Fukusho, during a snowy day, either on a business trip or returning home...
It seemed that fate still favored this infatuated man; the traffic jam quickly cleared. Nobu no Suke immediately tossed aside his cigarette butt and sped down the expressway, passing under the elevated bridge of Fukusho and turning through the city’s traffic lights. The light flickered in alternating patterns among the three passengers in the car. Keiko sensed that Sakuma's hand showed no signs of letting go, but he had stopped mumbling and seemed to have fallen asleep...
The car finally roared to a stop in the parking lot northwest of Sakuma's home. By then, Sakuma had been sound asleep for the entire journey...
As Sakuma looked up at the sky, relieved to see that no more snow was falling, he let out a slow breath.
The snow felt like an unshakeable grudge until Nobu no Suke finally stopped by a small bridge north of Sakuma's house after crossing through the city. Sakuma's temperature was still rising, but just as Nobu no Suke was about to say something to Nishijo, he saw a hand raised, signaling him to remain silent.
"This child is under my care; you can rest assured. I still need to thank you for bringing us back."
Nobu no Suke and Keiko exchanged a glance just as Nishijo opened the door. With swift movements, Nishijo brought out two pairs of shoes, inviting them in for tea.
"I’m so forgetful; I didn’t even prepare dinner, and here you are, having to deal with me. I truly apologize," she said.
Keiko and Nobu no Suke couldn't agree more, quickly assuring her not to worry about them. They would settle Sakuma and return to help.
"Aunt Nishijo, let me help you," Keiko offered.
Seeing that Nobu no Suke was already bustling about, carrying Sakuma inside, she took the bedding that Nishijo had brought and covered Sakuma with a blanket.
"Nobu no Suke!" Keiko exclaimed, pulling something from her bag and handing it to him.
"This is really bad," he replied.
In another room, Nishijo seemed unable to find the medicine she needed. Leaning against the wall, a faint light filtered through the sliding door, casting a shadow that only revealed her lower half. No one could see the expression on her face.
Beneath a portrait of Sakuma’s late father-in-law, an empty bottle of fever medicine and several boxes that had fallen to the floor seemed to tell a silent story.
Nishijo’s tense expression relaxed slightly as the sounds of Keiko and Nobu no Suke busying themselves on the other side of the wall eased some of her anxiety.
The sound of running water from the faucet, Keiko responding to Nobu no Suke, and the clear mention of "towel" reached Nishijo's ears. She slowly slid down to sit against the wall, gazing at the slightly reflective portrait of her late husband, her hands clasped together.
"Old man, I hope you watch over this poor son-in-law," she murmured before gradually standing up and closing off the dimly lit room, preparing to check on the situation.
Soon enough, tea and snacks were ready. Keiko and Nobu no Suke placed a towel on Sakuma's forehead. Notably, the box that appeared to contain fever medicine made Nishijo's previously tense expression shift into one of forced gratitude.
"You really are too kind," she said.
However, Keiko has her studies to attend to and some matters to resolve before graduation. Still, I hope her presence brings new hope. Perhaps my feelings are a bit off, but I truly wish this will be an opportunity.
These dark days will eventually come to an end.
By the way, Keiko has already purchased the fever-reducing medicine for the future. There’s no need for him to worry about the recent company matters; I have already requested leave from President Inada on his behalf. Please remind him not to worry; both Keiko and I will take care of everything here.
Thank you once again for your hospitality tonight.
Keiko, Nobu no Suke.
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