“Mei-san, are you okay? What happened?” She offered me an arm to help me up and glared at Kohei just like I did.
“I’m sure pregnancy has made her clumsy.” Kohei shrugged as he walked away to a patrol car. “Must be hard being both clumsy and stupid,” he muttered, but both Kayo and I heard him.
“Must be hard to be so heartless,” Kayo threw back at him. He acted like he didn’t hear her, got in the car, and took off.
“Heartless and mean. I thought police officers were supposed to be helpful,” I said, brushing myself off.
“Well, he’s one-of-a-kind.” Kayo sighed, reaching back to adjust her small bun. Her hair had grown longer these last few months. She kept claiming she didn’t have time to get it cut, but I think she liked her hair this length. When it was shorter, men wouldn’t even look at her. Now, she was getting eyed from across the room more often. I was happy for her.
“Are you here to see Goro-san?”
“Yeah. Buzz me in?”
“Sure. I’m on my way out for lunch. Oh, that reminds me. Are we still getting together for girls’ night tomorrow?”
“I think so. Let me double-check, okay? Things are crazy at home with my mom.”
“Okay.” She glanced at the red sketchbook and my knees. “You coming straight from the farm, Mei-san?”
I looked down at my jeans, and the knees were covered with grass and dirt stains. I should’ve done a better job cleaning up afterward.
“It’s a long story.”
Goro was eating a salad when I arrived at his desk. He never struck me as the salad type, but when I peered into the bento box, long pieces of thinly cut steak were mixed in with the greens. Of course.
“What’s so important, Mei-chan?” he asked around a mouthful of food.
I slid the red sketchbook onto his desk and opened it to the back page. Pointing to Ria’s name and the title of the manga work, After School, I watched his face morph from puzzled to surprised.
“Look what I found buried in the backyard.”
“You found this buried in the backyard of the Fukuda house?”
I nodded as he flipped through the book. I tried to keep my eyes on the drawings and dialogue, but Goro’s face was too much fun to watch.
He leaned in and ran his finger over one dialogue exchange between two characters. One girl’s cheeks were blushing as a young man, his hair blond and long over his eyes, stood over her.
“This has to be between us, okay? It would break Hiromi’s heart to know we’re dating… I’m not sure if I can lie to him… Then it’s over between us… No. I promise. I’ll keep quiet,” Goro read, keeping his voice low. The station was mostly empty, but those left at their desks weren’t paying attention to us.
He flipped backwards and forwards in the book, his eyes narrowed.
“What do you think?” I asked, leaning forward. I was eager to find out if his instincts were pinging like mine were. “There was a note with the book.” I pulled the “Just in case” note from my purse and gave it to him. He inspected both sides before setting it down and pushing away from the desk to lean back in his chair.
“I don’t know. It looks like girly manga to me. Why would she bury it with this note?”
“It has to mean something, no?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I can think of a dozen reasons why she would bury it. Maybe she knew it wasn’t very good, and she thought one day she could come back and dig it up like a time capsule. That used to be all the rage when our parents were kids, especially since land never left the family.” He scooped up a mound of greens and meat with his chopsticks and paused. “Yeah. That’s probably the best explanation.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Time capsules had things like money or newspapers or stuff from that time so you could see how things had changed. Who would bury their sketchbook?”
“She might have thought she’d be a big hit by now and that would be just as interesting to dig up.”
“Why wouldn’t she just stick it on a shelf?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
I took the sketchbook from the desk and flipped through it again, but without sitting and actually reading it, nothing was popping out at me.
“Akai-san said this was her masterpiece, and the story was partially autobiographical too.” I pressed my lips together as I wondered how long it would take me to read through to the end. Two or three days, tops.
“Do you think anything else is in the ground at her house? Should I get a team out there?” Goro raised his eyebrows at me.
“No. I don’t. This is it.” I sighed. The sketchbook wasn’t much, but it was something. “But I do have a few suspects we can look into around the cause of her disappearance.”
“Really? Shoot.” He lifted his pen over his notebook and scratched away as I told him everything I learned from Takashi Kato that morning.
“With Kato-san aware of his son’s love affair with Ria-san, and then him overhearing her father yell at her, I believe we can count on both the son, Itsuki, and Ria-san’s father being suspects.”
I was happy with these two options. They were two more options than the zero options I had the day before even though something felt missing. Besides Ria breaking up with Itsuki, he had no real reason I was aware of to hurt her. No one saw them arguing or angry with each other or the information would’ve made it into the police report. Her father was dead, so it’s not like we could question him either.
“Suspected of what? We’ve never found a body, so, unfortunately, Ria Fukuda is a missing person until we do.”
I folded my fingers around the sketchbook. Was this even worth getting involved in? I had plenty of things to do, especially now that Yasahiro and I were being forced out of the family farm by my brother. I needed to run my tea shop and look for a new home for us too.
I didn’t need a mystery on top of all that.
“But…” Goro started, humming under his breath. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t go talk to Itsuki Kato. You said he makes taiyaki?” He licked his lips, and my stomach growled. It was lunchtime for me too.
“Yeah, and they’re delicious. I was thinking about asking him to distribute to the tea shop.”
“That would be a nice addition to the menu,” he replied, his eyes filled with mischievous delight.
My phone rang in my bag, the buzz-buzz-buzzing stopping a full out laugh from my belly. On the screen, Mom’s name flashed. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, trying to convince myself that I wasn’t mad at her for taking away my place on the family farm. She was only ever looking to protect the family land and our investment. This situation wasn’t her fault.
But it was.
“Hello?” I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Mei-chan, I hope I’m not bothering you.” Her voice was irritated, and anger flashed in my vision, my face heating up.
“No. Of course not. How is everything?”
“I was worried about you because neither you nor Yasa-kun came out to the house this morning. Are you sick?”
“No. I’m as well as to be expected.”
“Then why didn’t you come?”
I detected a high amount of passive aggressive behavior on Mom’s part. She had replaced me but already missed me? I counted to five before answering. “Seems to me that you have everything under control. Yuna and the boys are going to be a big help.”
“They’re not, not yet. It’ll take time to get them acclimated and learning the business.”
“I’m sure it will.”
I paused, eyeing Goro who was trying, unsuccessfully, not to eavesdrop.
“I don’t remember us saying yesterday that you wouldn’t be working here anymore.”
“Actually, Hirata said Yuna would be taking over all my duties.”
Mom scoffed. “Well, yes, but not right away. I still expect you to come every day. This is a family business. Just because I brought in your brother doesn’t mean I still don’t need you.”
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“Mom…”
I had so much to say at that moment. What about my tea shop? What about my growing family with Yasahiro? What about my hopes and dreams? I barely had time to pick up a paintbrush, and my mom expected me to work for free?
Or was I being selfish?
“I need you to come out to the farm now and take over training Yuna-ko. I’m sure you’re done with cleaning out the Fukuda house, and if Yasa-kun is still handling the tea shop, then you should have the time free. We’ll discuss your schedule too.”
I inhaled a long breath through my nose to steady myself. And yet, guilt settled on my shoulders like an angry monkey. Against my better judgment, I felt I owed her. After all, it wasn’t Yuna’s fault she had no experience running a farm. She worked at the bank when she met my brother, and she grew up in the city, not the countryside. I would be surprised if she knew anything about growing vegetables. As far as I knew, she couldn’t even keep houseplants alive.
“I’m hungry, Mom. I’m going to have lunch with Yasa-kun, and then I’ll come out to the farm this afternoon. I need to check in with Akiko-chan, anyway.”
She huffed. “I suppose that will work. See you later.” She hung up, and I threw my phone back into my bag with a huff.
Goro’s eyes slid to me. “What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story. I promise to fill you in later.”
“Sounds like your mom is pretty mad.” He leaned back in his chair. “Let me give you a little advice, from one young person to another. Your mom, my mom — they come from an entirely different mindset. We love our families, but nothing is more important than being happy with your role in the universe.” He pressed his hands together in prayer position. “I’m grateful my mom and Kumi have worked out a good relationship, but your mother needs… a push in the right direction.”
“You’re telling me,” I said, smirking.
I stood up and readjusted my dirty jeans. Looks like I wasn’t changing anytime soon.
“Let Kayo-san know I’ll call her later. And maybe tomorrow morning we can go to Itsuki Kato’s taiyaki place?” He nodded, and I grabbed my bag and prepared myself for a hot exit to the summery outside. “For now, I have work to do.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was hotter than the fires of hell outside, and I regretted my decision to come to the farm in the afternoon. I should’ve told Mom I’d be there the next morning when the weather was cooler. But I was hasty, trying to placate her and not make her any angrier.
Yuna and I were suffering because of my poor decisions.
“I’m going to faint out here, Mei-chan,” Yuna said, puffing short, labored breaths.
“Try to concentrate on feeling cool. I always picture a crisp autumn day when I’m working in these conditions.”
Yuna glanced sideways at me.
“Forget it. Let’s make it through these two things, and we’ll go inside.”
I was showing her how to pick tomatoes and squash was next. We wouldn’t harvest a whole row, not then. It was too hot for that. Instead, I decided to show her an example of each so she could get started the next day.
“I don’t know how you do this while pregnant. When I was pregnant with both boys, I could barely move.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’m lucky.”
Who was I kidding? I was the unluckiest person around, current evidence pointing to my continual state of bad luck.
“Maybe you are.” Her voice had a bitter tone to it I wasn’t expecting. I stopped and squinted at her, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Are you okay?”
She waved me off. “I’m fine. Let’s finish up.”
Something in the way she changed the subject so fast told me differently, but I was in no mood to press her. I hurried us through the day’s lesson, making sure she knew what to do the following morning, and then ushered her inside. Yuna hesitated in front of the kitchen hooks, not knowing where to hang her hat or gloves. She moved slowly, like she had weights on every joint. I looked out the window, wondering if there was anything else I should do before facing the music. Minato was gone for the day, so I had no one I needed to talk to before spending time with Mom.
In the living room, the boys laid about, sprawled in front of the fan, playing video games on their devices, headphones engaged. Mimoji-chan kept his distance, never fully trusting kids and their grabby hands.
Mom was in her knitting chair, the farm ledger in her lap and a pencil in her hand. Her face was pinched and depressed, and I considered making a run for it.
“I’m going to go cool off in the bedroom,” Yuna said, heading off before anyone could stop her.
I pulled up a chair opposite Mom and sat my pregnant butt down where it should be. After digging in the morning and my constant state of activity since then, I was weary and needed a break.
“How is she doing?” Mom asked, referring to Yuna.
“She’ll be fine, eventually. She’s smart, and she’ll catch on. But I don’t think she’s done much manual labor in the past.” I wiggled my head from side to side. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather put her in charge of the books?” I waved to the ledger in her lap. “She used to work at the bank.”
“Well, I could, I suppose.”
This was my opportunity!
“Then you could hire someone more qualified to come out here and take over some of the harvesting. Just like you did with Minato-san.”
Mom squinted her eyes at me like I was a kilometer away in a raging storm. Not good.
“Why would I do that? I have enough help between you and me. I was hoping to increase the yield next year with her help too.”
“Well…” I said, drawing out the syllable. “I think, since Yasa-kun and I are no longer investing our money in the farm, I’ll finally be able to run the tea shop full time. Then I can move on to other things like painting and real estate investment, and of course, raising the baby.”
I was proud of myself for coming straight out and saying it. I was polite, but I didn’t beat around the bush like most people did. I didn’t say no. I just stated my case.
“This” — Mom shook her finger at me — “This is why I didn’t ask you and Yasa-kun to invest. You know I’m happy for you that you opened the tea shop. But I never expected you to run the place. I find it… irresponsible that you are choosing the tea shop over the family business.”
Mom rubbed her forehead as I tried to think of the proper response that didn’t involve me jumping to my feet and screaming obscenities at her. She helped me open the place! What did she think was going to happen?
“I... I don’t understand. You just cut me out of the family business, so I’m not choosing the tea shop over the family business. That was your choice. Besides, I don’t want to be doing hard manual labor in my third trimester, so it’s not like I’d be working here much longer, anyway.” I rubbed my belly, setting a protective hand over it.
Mom huffed. “I worked in the fields until my due date with both you and your brother. Practically gave birth to you in the middle of the squash.”
The image that popped into my head was not pleasant. My overactive imagination needed an off switch. She plowed on.
“I didn’t cut you out of the family business, Mei-chan. You’re very much still a part of it. The plain truth is that I need you here working. There’s more work to do than Yuna and I can handle, and we won’t be able to afford another employee. So I will call Yasa-kun later this evening and advise him it’s time you hired someone to run the tea shop so I can have you back here every day.”
A blood vessel in my head throbbed. She wasn’t cutting me out, and she still needed me here, so she wanted to run my life. She wanted me at her beck and call.
“You’ll call Yasa-kun? Why…?” I stopped. Why? Because he was my husband and surely he would have better control over me.
Mom’s business was in the present, but her sensibilities were still in the past. All that talk last year about me finding somethi
ng and someone I loved meant nothing now that she needed me on the farm working for free.
I tried to reconcile that Mom of a year ago with the Mom in front of me. What had happened?
A lot. But I was missing something.
“Maybe he can talk some sense into you.” She cleared her throat.
“Maybe he’ll talk sense into me? Are you joking?”
I could see it now. Yasahiro’s mouth would drop open, and he’d say, “Your mother has lost her mind.” Then he’d regret ever marrying me and getting involved with my delusional family. Because everyone was delusional at this point. Hirata had no idea what he was really buying. Yuna would never be able to handle this job. Mom was living in a fantasy world. And I was the one suffering the consequences.
“Mei-chan, don’t talk back to me,” Mom admonished me. “You have no idea what I deal with concerning you on a daily basis.”
“Me? What have I done?” All the blood left my head and settled in my abdomen. The baby fluttered, sensing anxious tension flowing through my body.
Mom stared at me for a solid few seconds, and my dread increased.
“People are talking,” she said slowly. And then I remembered what Mom had said the previous day, something about “town rumors about our family.” There were always town rumors about our family, but this appeared to be new buzz.
I raised my eyebrows at her, and she reached over to squeeze my hand, a gesture I found more troubling than anything.
“I’ve tried to stop them, but I can’t. You know how small towns are.”
“Are people gossiping… about me?” My voice conveyed how unbelieving this was. I laughed, though it wasn’t funny. “What could they possibly have to say?”
Mom swallowed and licked her lips. “They say you’re a witch.”
“A witch?” I couldn’t have been more confused.
“That you survived the barn fire because you’ve sold your soul to Izanami.”
Izanami? Wow. Izanami was one of the first gods at the birth of creation. Her son, Kagu-tsuchi, was the god of fire, and he killed his mother by burning her to death.
The Daydreamer Detective Returns a Favor Page 8