Chapter 15 7

August, a Saturday evening. Masahiko sat by the window of the room on the second floor, drinking coffee and reading a book. Xiao Yan, I'm sorry, I'll cook later.Akiko tapped on the computer keyboard and said apologetically. It doesn't matter, you are now translating to a critical moment.I'll make it tonight, but only pasta. Really?I am sorry. Masahiko cooks pasta, I don't know if it can be called cooking.He just boiled the pasta and tossed it with canned Napoli sauce.Masahiko, who has always been clumsy, can only do this at best. Akiko couldn't stop translating.

Masahiko doesn't know too well, but in the work of translation, energy seems to be very important.In particular, Akiko is an artist. If she is not in the right mood, she will not be able to continue, but once she gets motivated, she can sit in front of the computer all day long.After noon today, she was still hesitating whether to start working or not. She didn't expect that she became more and more concentrated and translated happily, as if the fire was raging now. In fact, Masahiko was supposed to stay quietly downstairs and not disturb her, but Akiko insisted that he stay in this room, so Masahiko had no choice but to follow her.She said that she would not blame herself too much if Yayan stayed in the same room as herself, because it was rare that Yayan was at home on vacation, but she wanted to work.Masahiko originally wanted Akiko not to care about these things, but then he thought, since Akiko likes this, it's okay to stay here.

Akiko's room is on the east side of the second floor, and there is a desk with a computer by the window.When she was alone at home, she mostly stayed in this room.There are two large bookshelves in the room, which feels a lot like the reading room of this home.Masahiko was sitting by another window on the south side, reading a mystery novel, very leisurely. (Living in the country is not bad either.) Masahiko looked away from the book, enjoying the cool breeze blowing in from the wide open window, he couldn't help thinking this.On the newly replaced screen window, there was a small beetle that looked like a scarab crawling around.

The summer in Jiujiuli Town is much more comfortable than that in the city. Even in August, it feels a little chilly in the morning and evening.The specially installed air conditioner was hardly used.If the traffic here is more convenient, it can be regarded as a summer resort. Suddenly I heard the voice of the wife next door talking to the husband.As soon as Masahiko looked up, he just saw them coming out of the house. Both of them had smiles on their faces, and their relationship seemed to be very harmonious. Masahiko watched the two get into the car and left, then said: Does the lady next door continue to have affairs?

This sentence stopped Akiko's hands typing on the computer keyboard. I can't relate to that lady. Why?Because she was having an affair? If it was just a simple affair, I wouldn't hate her so much.Akiko turned her head and said angrily.Can't you clearly see the entrance of their house from this room?When Xiaoyan was at work, I usually stayed in this room, so I saw all the things I didn't want to see. what do you see When Masahiko asked, Akiko kept silent.It shouldn't be possible to see things actually going on with my own eyes. Not only one but several people came to her house!I've seen four of them alone.

Akiko seemed to be having a hard time opening her mouth, and Masahiko was also surprised when she heard that.Just having an affair is already too much, I didn't expect that there was more than one person. In love with someone other than my husband, I can't help but pity her.But she is not like this, she has changed her partners one by one, she is simply playing with men. The amiable face of the lady next door appeared in front of my eyes.Suddenly her happy and kind smile made people feel a little lewd. I hate this kind of person is so nasty! Akiko frowned, her expression seemed to swallow something bitter.Akiko believes that a dewy marriage without love is an unclean relationship.

It was hard to believe for a moment that the lady should have done such a thing.Yahiko scratched his head and said. At this time, he suddenly remembered what Zhihui said once: In this town, not having to hesitate or beat around the bush, as long as it's something you want to do and die contentedly, even though it's sad, is the best thing in this town. Could it be that the wife next door is trying to do what she wants to do in order to die contentedly?So, one day she will use that pillar too? Masahiko blankly imagined the figure of the wife next door hanging under the iron pillar.This is just a fantasy, but it is very likely that one day it will become a reality.

The phone in the room rang suddenly, and the light on the handset on Jingzi's desk flickered. I'll go down first. Masahiko had just finished speaking when Akiko had already picked up the phone. Hello, this is the Muto family.Ah, I'm sorry, I've always been subject to your permission.Akiko looked at Masahiko and said.Who is calling? tonight?Yes, yes, then I will tell my husband to listen. Akiko pressed the hold button and handed the handset to Masahiko. It's the president of the town council. He said that he will discuss the festival tonight: he said it's convenient for you to come over.

Festival?It turns out that this kind of activity still exists. Yahiko answered the phone. Hello, Mr. Muto.You are resting, sorry to bother you.Ono's hearty voice came from the other end of the phone, he must have a smile on his face.I just told Mrs. Muto that we will discuss the autumn festival tonight.I'm sorry for the short notice. Masahiko thought to himself, yes, it's really temporary.But he still agreed to the chairman of the town council. The event of the Autumn Festival sounds a bit exciting.Although I have seen various famous festivals before, I have never actually participated in them.It might have been troublesome before, but this town has no entertainment and is really boring, so Masahiko welcomes it now.

Excuse me, but please come to the assembly hall at seven o'clock tonight.Also, there is usually a banquet after our discussion, so please tell Mrs. Muto that you will be back later so that she won't worry; it's best not to eat too much for dinner. The president hung up the phone after finishing his instructions. What a coincidence.After I'm out, you can concentrate on your work. Masahiko added this sentence after telling Akiko the content of the phone call. Well, let's eat something before we go, I'll do it. No, no, I'll cook the pasta, it's absolutely delicious.

Although the president of the town council specifically warned him, drinking on an empty stomach is not good for your health, so it is safer to eat something first. Masahiko stretched greatly, then hummed a song and went downstairs to cook. The meeting place is near the temple where the funeral of Zhihui's grandmother was held. It is a two-story composite house that is incompatible with the surrounding landscape.The first floor is a garage with iron rolling doors, and there seems to be a small fire truck parked inside.The meeting place is located on the second floor. Go up to the second floor by the iron stairs outside, and after opening the thin door, there is a room about twelve tatami mats.There are two rows of low tables for meetings on the tatami, a small sink in one corner of the room, a tea table with cups and a large refrigerator. In the center of the room sat a very thin young man.When he saw Masahiko coming in, he bowed his head solemnly.His hair was dyed blond, and his eyebrows were cut to half their length.Masahiko had never seen this person before. Hello. There was only this man in the hall, probably a newcomer who went out early for fear of being late, but he arrived too early. Sorry, hello. Yahiko walked into the room at a loss.He looked around the room, trying to find a suitable seat to sit down, but the young man beckoned him to sit in front of him.That being the case, I had no choice but to sit in front of him. Are you Mr. Muto? Masahiko doesn't know this person, but this person knows himself.He held out his hand with a broad smile. Hello, my name is Yuji Tsuchiya, please take care of me tonight. You really can't judge a book by its cover.The young man was really polite.But it is too exaggerated to shake hands even if you are not an American. When Masahiko shook hands with the young man nervously, the president of the town council opened the door and came in. Sorry for being late. For some reason, he was holding two large paper bags, like the ones you see at burger joints around town.He put the paper bag at the place where he entered the door, and said with a smile on his face as usual: This kind of thing can't be bought nearby, so I made a special trip into the city to buy it. Sorry to cause you so much trouble. The young man surnamed Tsuchiya got up calmly, and bowed his head to thank the chairman of the town council. Mr. Muto, I'm sorry to ask you to make a special trip.Have you two introduced yourself?The president of the town council sat next to Masahiko and said with a smile on his face. Masahiko nodded, and the president of the town council couldn't help laughing: Doesn't Mr. Muto know Yuuji-kun? do not know.Today is the first meeting. Face-to-face contact may be the first time, but wouldn't you know it?Well, Yuji-kun, what's the name of your band?What mallet? Uncle, no, it's not a mallet, it's a hammer.Angel and Hammer.Tsuchiya rolled his eyes at the chairman of the town council, and smiled wryly. Angel and Hammer?Masahiko's voice couldn't help but amplify. Angel and Hammer is the visual kei rock band that sang the life and death of summer.Even Masahiko, who has never studied this kind of music, knows this band.The album they released not long ago sold out at an alarming rate. Yes, Yuji-kun is the guitarist and composer of the band. Masahiko couldn't help opening his eyes to carefully look at the young man sitting in front of him.Tsuchiya smiled shyly while scratching his nose with his fingertips. The biggest feature of the visual kei band is the special make-up.Because Tsuchiya had no makeup on at all today, so he couldn't immediately associate him with the appearance on TV.But if you look closely, you can still find that the shape of the eyes and nose are exactly the same.Make no mistake, he is Yuji from Angels and Hammers. Scared?He is still my nephew.The head of the town council said proudly. Masahiko was frightened for the second time. He was also from this town and lived here until high school. Is that so?I didn't expect such a famous person to come from our town. No, actually I'm not outstanding at all. Tsuchiya said modestly that he didn't have the cool appearance of the orchestra at all, and from the expression, he was just an approachable and good young man, even making people feel very simple. But why is he here?Masahiko thought for a while, and finally realized. Will Mr. Tsuchiya play a song for us during the autumn festival? No, the president of the town council smiled awkwardly.Mr. Muto, I'm so sorry, what I said on the phone just now was all nonsense. Nonsense? Well, talking about discussing the autumn festival is nonsense.It's just the three of us who will be here tonight. Masahiko couldn't help looking at the two of them in turn. Because if I don’t say that, I’m afraid that Mr. Muto’s refusal to come is actually asking you to be a witness. This is really incomprehensible at first glance. You Er-kun is going to use the pillars tonight.In any case, Mr. Muto must be his witness. ah?Do not make jokes!Masahiko's voice suddenly became sharp. You should also know that when men use the pillars, they must find non-relatives as witnesses. This Yayan heard from Zhihui that this is to prevent someone from abusing the pillar.If you are a woman, you can find your relatives to witness. He is the son of my sister-in-law, and I cannot be his witness because he is a relative. This reason is too abnormal, Masahiko thought. I was really taken aback the first time I ate this in Tokyo.I didn't expect such delicious food to exist in the world.Tsuchiya gnawed on the third hamburger and said cheerfully.So I just eat this almost every day.Eating this food, I went to the band to practice and work every day. Every time I was not going well, I ate this food. Strange to say, it immediately produced strength.But now he is banned by the band manager for being too fat. Tsuchiya's cheeks were stuffed with hamburgers, and his face looked like an innocent child's.He probably really likes burgers, so he chose this for his last supper. (what's going on?) Masahiko looked at Tsuchiya and couldn't help wondering. (Why do I have to be his witness?) I haven't agreed yet, but I'm really embarrassed to refuse, because Tsuchiya even knelt on the ground to beg himself. Please, Mr. Muto, I must use the pillar today. Masahiko of course dissuaded him immediately. After working hard for a long time, I finally made a name for myself, and my first album sold well, which shows that I am very talented, so I will definitely be able to create more popular music in the future.That being the case, why rush to use the pillars? I know that now is the pinnacle of my life, and the happiness in front of me will disappear soon.At that time, the happiness in front of me will inevitably become the source of pain, and in this way, I will never be qualified to use the pillar. Why do you say that?No one can tell what will happen tomorrow.Maybe there is more happiness waiting for you, isn't it?Because Mr. Tsuchiya is young and talented. Tsuchiya's tone was very firm, and Masahiko tried to refute. I really don't understand why everyone is so desperate to die. The president of the town council just quietly listened to the back-and-forth arguments between the two.Seeing that he just stood by and watched, Masahiko couldn't help feeling a sense of contempt in his heart.It's really outrageous that the nephew wants to find fault but doesn't stop him! When the happiness in front of me will end is really just a matter of time.Maybe in another month, this matter will also reach Mr. Muto's ears. Seeing Masahiko's persuasive persuasion, Tsuchiya wanted to silence him.To be honest, the song this time is fake and plagiarized. What did you say? The most impressive part of "Life and Death in Summer" echoed in Masahiko's ears. Although the rhythm is strong, the tune is very pleasant. This piece is actually a copy of my friend's work.Although not all copies, but the chorus part is almost exactly the same. Tsuchiya's expression when he said these words seemed a little elusive. I have no contact with that person for a long time, and I don't know where he lives now.However, he should have discovered it long ago, because it was his composition. Why are you doing this? It might be weird to say that, but I really didn't expect it to be such an instant hit.That song was a must-sing song for us long before we became popular.I want to say that it's just a secret singing in a small exhibition venue, it shouldn't matter I see.He probably thought that it was only sung in amateur performances, and that it would not reach the ears of the real composer: unexpectedly, the song suddenly became popular all over the country, so this matter may also come to the surface soon. As long as everyone knows that the song is plagiarized, Angel and Hammer will be over.No matter how hard you try in the future, the songs you make will definitely be regarded as plagiarism.It's all my fault, I'm really sorry everyone. Tsuchiya's eyes filled with tears.Seeing the tears in his eyes, Masahiko was speechless.It is not impossible to understand the feeling of wanting to end one's life under such circumstances. At this time Masahiko suddenly thought of an irrelevant question. Please wait a moment.I can understand what Mr. Tsuchiya said, but in this case, does choosing death qualify as using the pillar? That's right, this choice is a last resort because there is no way out, not because I am satisfied with my life, but an escape like a fake. Because it was his own decision, of course it was.The president of the town council, who had been silent all this time, spoke heavily. Of course I feel very satisfied. I made the song that became a hit, and my talent has also been greatly appreciated. You see, the waka paper has been written. Tsuchiya took out a piece of paper from a small backpack beside him and spread it out.Although the handwriting on it is not flattering, it does contain the waka of Master Saigyu. I am so happy now, my previous efforts have finally been affirmed, and I feel gratified from the bottom of my heart.But all this will end.As long as the real author of that song comes forward to accuse, everything will be over, and my future life will be full of regret and annoyance. After that, I can only survive by carefully hurting each other, just like most residents in this town . Such a statement is too much, Masahiko thought.The residents of this small town are very kind, they always greet each other when they meet, and always want to help each other.Such a good town can no longer be found in the whole world! Masahiko retorted like this. Mr. Muto, you are mistaken.Tsuchiya said firmly.The reason why the residents of this small town seem kind is because they are afraid of the pillars, not for the pillars themselves, but for the people who use them.These residents know that their lives are obviously worthless and empty compared with those who use the pillars to end their lives, so they try their best to help others and make friends with them. It's too much for Yuji-kun to say that, but I don't think so. Uncle, isn't it so?I hated the people in this small town since I was a child. Most of the residents in this small town are losers, and everyone loses their lives.I decided early on that I would never be like that.As Tsuchiya said, he suddenly knelt down on the ground and begged Masahiko.Mr. Muto, please, please be my witness, please let me use the pillar. Yahiko was speechless. I understand, since you want to die, you can die as you wish, but don't drag me into it. To be honest, this is what Masahiko really thinks. After eating eight burgers, Tsuchiya sighed. Uncle, I'm sorry, I wanted to eat all of these, but I really couldn't eat it, I couldn't even eat a single French fries. The president of the town council glanced at Masahiko, as if asking him to make up his mind quickly. Mr. Ohno.Masahiko noticed his gaze, and asked instead of answering: Why did you find me?Why did you have to choose me as a witness? That's because, Muto-san, Tsuchiya answered instead of the town council president.My uncle hopes that you can become a real townsman of Jiujiuli Town. What a nosy!