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墨書 Inktalez
Sakuma felt as if the sudden realization had bombarded his mental world like a nuclear explosion. In his hollow gaze, he repeatedly saw the moment the mushroom cloud expanded, as if everything he thought he knew was swept away with it.
The streets were bustling with traffic as people left work, mixed with the rumble of snowplows and the beeping of trams weaving through the freshly cleared roads.
A thin mist hung in the night sky, and the bright moon cast a soft glow, resembling the transition from sunset to moonrise. Sakuma had been sitting there, motionless, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought for what felt like an eternity.
Yet, the tremors and residual heat from the cognitive bomb he had just experienced seemed to free him from fixating on one particular question, even though he desperately wanted to know the answer.
What did he represent in Wen Liang's eyes? Was he merely a substitute for her own unfulfilled youth and regrets? Did his certain traits bear an uncanny resemblance to someone she had lost? Or was it simply that Wen Liang, in her drunken state that night, had intentionally sought pleasure or revenge for her past regrets?
Sakuma was at a loss.
"Sakuma Wensheng!"
Nishijo opened the door and saw Sakuma's eyes, which had regained some clarity. He was trying to find a cigarette on himself; this was a good sign—he moved.
It had been an entire afternoon; Sakuma sat like a statue, staring at the ceiling without knowing what thoughts occupied his mind.
"Forgetfulness of things you often use is not the mark of a good husband."
Nishijo pulled out a brand-new pack of Qixing Brand cigarettes. He had bought them specifically during his outing while knowing that Sakuma, having just recovered from a fever, shouldn't smoke. If illness could be cured with medicine when it manifested as coughs and fevers, then emotional sickness required its own remedy.
Perhaps cigarettes were a good thing; at least that’s what Nishijo believed. Whether it took a nuclear bomb or something else entirely, he needed to shatter Sakuma's zombie-like demeanor. He couldn’t continue like this for two more years.
"Oh! Look at me; I've even forgotten this..."
Sakuma forced a bitter smile, as if he couldn’t recall anything from the day of the funeral—cigarettes and lighters had vanished into the pure white snow.
"Don't forget about dinner later. No matter how you feel, you need to eat well."
Nishijo stepped closer to Sakuma and placed the cigarettes down. He glanced at the crumpled piece of paper beneath Sakuma's left hand—trampled but unbroken—and wondered how many times Sakuma had looked at it since he left that afternoon.
"Saijo's Mother-in-Law."
Sakuma slightly bowed, took the cigarette, placed it in his mouth, and lit it, not forgetting to apologize for forgetting the ashtray while remembering the lighter. This earned him a smile from Nishijo, as he had arranged these little items himself.
After taking a puff, Sakuma continued to ramble on.
"That day, I bought bento for Wen Liang for the first time. It was really hot, so I got some chilled beer. I even asked her if she really wanted it, and she kept nodding, showing a mysterious smile that we hadn't seen in a long time. So, I went ahead and bought it."
Sakuma exhaled a high white smoke ring that lingered in the room, swirling around for four or five circles before being dispersed by a deep breath.
"Did you ever anticipate that you would become lovers with her? It all started with Wen Liang's smile."
Nishijo perked up at this, as Wen Liang had never mentioned anything about it. However, he could be certain that after that smile and the beer, there must have been a breakthrough between them.
"It was just an ominous premonition. Everything felt sudden, but after that letter came through, it didn’t seem so unexpected anymore. Perhaps I was seen as another Yamada, and Wen Liang seemed to think she could fulfill a fantasy with alcohol at that moment."
Sakuma lit another cigarette and looked at Nishijo with some speculation, glancing at the letter paper beside him that seemed to have been crumpled by his hands. He had indeed felt anger; ever since the suspicion arose, it felt like there was an anger inside him with no outlet.
"That night went smoothly during the client meeting. We toasted to celebrate; my beer was finished quickly. We were full and leaned back on the sofa watching the weather forecast for the next day."
Sakuma continued reminiscing about that night when fortune suddenly smiled upon him.
"I thought about taking a shower and going to bed since the first train was early the next day. Just as I was about to move, I felt something grab my pants. Turning around, it seemed she really had drunk too much and started babbling nonsense. With a tug, she pulled my pants down to the floor just as I had loosened my belt."
Nishijo chuckled; he never imagined his daughter could be so clumsy. If there was such an incident, it truly suited Sakuma—at least in terms of embarrassment.
"In that moment, did you foresee what would happen next?"
Nishijo poured tea for Sakuma. The room was already filled with smoke, but Nishijo patiently lit another cigarette for Sakuma to continue his story.
"My mind went blank at that moment. Luckily, I still had one layer of clothing on; otherwise, I would have looked like a clown. But I seemed to hear Wen Liang calling out some name in a vague way, repeatedly saying not to go and to stay with her. At that moment, my heart softened. I intended to take a shower but found myself unable to escape; soon enough, Wen Liang was beneath me. For the first time after seeing those dolls being played with, I became one myself."
Nishijo found it both amusing and absurd; this unexpected son-in-law turned out to have become Wen Liang's partner in such a way. Coincidentally, it was also in March as described in the love letter when Sakuma first appeared in Nishijo's eyes. That December was when Wen Liang went on a business trip and never returned.
"When I woke up, I found that neither of us had any clothes on without knowing how it happened—whether it was because I didn't resist or what—but we were embracing each other. The lingering effects of alcohol still supported me then. After one sleep, this scene truly surprised me. But for the first time, I saw Wen Liang smile in a way I had never seen before; she told me it was her happiest night..."
Sakuma extinguished yet another cigarette, and as he shook the box, it seemed there was only one left.
"It seems you have some plans in mind," Nishijo remarked.
She poured another cup of tea, watching the young man in front of her, whose eyes sparkled with the same excitement one might have upon winning the lottery. She retrieved a small black box and observed Sakuma's expression as he glanced at it. The tension in his demeanor was palpable, reminiscent of a schoolboy yearning for answers.
Nishijo understood that her initial goal had been achieved. Sakuma was beginning to articulate his next steps. They weren't too far off; at least for now, he needed to examine these relics closely, especially that list of names.
"Since you've made up your mind, why not have a meal first? Also, you've already gone through a pack of cigarettes—how are you feeling?"
Sakuma smiled.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mother-in-law."
Nishijo responded with a smile of her own.
"What kind of curry do you like?"
"..."
Sakuma didn't answer. Instead, he tossed the empty cigarette pack into the trash and hurried to help his mother-in-law.
It was as if the bustling rush of people leaving work had dissipated, leaving behind the exhaust fumes that the wind carried away. The fresh night air filled his lungs, and the soft melodies from the night market began to echo once more. Though remnants of snow still lingered, the warmth from lighting a cigarette created a small haven amidst the chill.
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