buds of tomorrow ∮ And let me tell you about the angels I met! Although it is an angel, don't imagine it as something with snow-white wings on its back and a halo of light floating on its head like in European religious paintings. The Angel I knew, who always wore a pair of skinny jeans and only liked fancy shirts, was a woman in her mid-twenties.Her hair was long enough to reach her heart, and her eyelashes were long enough to hold three matchsticks. She was quite a beauty. But she speaks with a standard Kansai accent, smokes non-stop all day long, and likes to talk to stimulate other people's nerves at every turn.Moreover, seeing the abandoned kitten in the rain, he would blurt out with a serious face: it is very cold-blooded to say that it is happier to die early.Even if her facial features are slightly better, I'm afraid she can't completely cover up her bad personality.

Actually, she's awkward, not a gut-wrenching personality but she's still an angel.Like it or not, it's just meant to be that way. 1 The first time I saw her was in June of Showa 44 (1969), 34 years ago.It was the year before the Osaka World Expo, and I was in the second grade of elementary school at that time. At that time, my family lived in Negishi, Tokyo. I walked down Shinban from the mountain in Ueno, and walked for another five minutes across Yanto Street. An old rental house was where I lived with my family.In the corner of this old block, there are row upon row of small houses, and the small lanes are intertwined like spider webs.

I have forgotten the details before and after. Anyway, with my personality, I must have just returned home after playing the game "Kamenja Red Shadow" with friends in a nearby park.I waved the wooden stick I picked up from nowhere, and sang joyfully towards the setting sun falling between the buildings in the distance.What's more, it is the balls of the kind of crooked songs that stupid children like most, yelling with a loud voice.Boys in the lower grades of elementary school have a very high rate of being stupid. ① "Masquerade Ninja Red Shadow": A ninja manga created by Kouki Yokoyama, which was adapted into a TV series in 1967 and was very popular.

When I finally got back to my house, I suddenly saw a long-haired woman smoking a cigarette behind a telephone pole. I had never seen such a person in this area before. (Ah! It's Carmen Maki.) That's what I thought reflexively when I saw that woman.Because she looks a bit like the young female singer who became popular with the song "Sometimes Like a Child Without a Mother". But in retrospect, the facial features of that small face are really hard to say that they look alike.It must be that the decadent atmosphere exuding from her whole body is similar to that female singer!For some reason, I still clearly remember that she was wearing jeans with very wide trousers (the adults around called them flared pants), and her upper body was a red T-shirt with English letters printed on it.

When she noticed that I was approaching, she gave me a stern look.At that moment, although I lowered the volume, I did not stop singing.Because I think it would be embarrassing to panic and shut up. Little fool. After she cast a glance at me, she puffed out two streams of blue smoke from her graceful hooked nose, muttering in a Kansai accent. Whether it's Osaka or Tokyo, children are really fools! Er big sister, who are you?that is my home. Although the Kansai accent, which I haven't heard for a long time, is fresh to me, but the first thing I should ask is this question. Are you a child of this family?So, you are Asi?

I am indeed Asi, there is no other Asi in this family other than me. You were so cute when you were a baby, how did you become a dirty little ghost now? She carefully looked at my dirty face, frowning in disappointment.To say this attitude is too much, it is indeed too much. What, you forgot about me?I am your little aunt! Seeing my blank face, she smiled and added this sentence. Even hearing her say that, I was still confused.When I was a child, the world was limited to a few kilometers within a radius of my own home, so it was impossible to remember any relatives unless I saw them frequently.

I am your mother's sister! When she said this, I finally remembered the photo album in the closet, and there was a page dedicated to photos before and after my birth.Among them, there is indeed a picture of me as a baby being hugged by a girl in a sailor suit.That girl, I heard before, is my sister, Michie, who is seven years younger than her mother. That's right!I am that Mei Zhihui! She threw the cigarette on the ground, crushing it out with the toe of her sandal as she spoke. Today, I just came from Osaka and arrived after noon.I used to smoke in the house, but your grandma is chattering, so I had to come out to smoke.

Grandma herself smokes from time to time, but she hates seeing women smoking.Knowing this, I immediately believed that she must be my family. Why!It's not convenient to talk here, let's talk in the room first! That woman, Aunt Michie, opened the sliding door of the entrance as if she was at home, and moved her chin to let me in. (Why is she so mean?) I would think so, of course. This person is my mother's younger sister, Michie.Because of something, I have to live in Tokyo temporarily. That night, at the dinner table with two low tables side by side, my mother introduced it so solemnly.

My mother was originally from Osaka, but she didn't speak Kansai dialect at home.Because the grandma who lives with her hates the Kansai accent, my mother deliberately sealed it. But having said that, I haven't seen her for a while, and Mei Zhihui has grown up too!At first, I couldn't even recognize who it was. The father, who had already changed into a yukata, sipped his beer with gusto and said.At that time, my father was working for a trading company in Suta Town. It was the last time we met Ah Si when he was born, so it has been eight years. Long time no see, sorry! Aunt Michie gulped down her dinner, which was a little more luxurious than usual, as she answered.I clearly remember that at this time, the grandma sitting opposite looked at her face with gloomy eyes.

Perhaps because she has never left Tokyo, grandma has a stubborn prejudice against foreign counties and cities.Every now and then, she would tell my sister and me that people in a certain place are bad-hearted, and most people in a certain place are liars, etc., but these are just her one-sided beliefs.Of course, all that comes out of her mouth are negative impressions, and there will be absolutely no words of praise.To me, it's just a boring prejudice no matter it was or is now, in short, as long as she can belittle others, she can do whatever she wants!Grandma is a person who treats complaining as a hobby.

What have you been doing since high school? Play around chant! To the father's question, the little aunt gave an answer that made grandma even more disgusting. I worked as a department store lady in Umeda, Osaka, and also in a pickle shop and coffee shop in Nara. It is really diverse and diverse. That's why we haven't seen each other for so many years! Before grandma interrupted, I said first. I myself have visited my grandparents' house many times before.I also met my uncle and cousins ​​there, but I have no impression of Aunt Mei Zhihui.Although they have been famous for a long time, they have no chance to actually meet each other. So, is this the first time you met Xiaoqian? I've seen photos from my mother, and it really is cuter in real life. When I asked, the little aunt stretched out her fingers and pinched the cheek of the little girl Chihiro who was sitting next to her.The five-year-old sister looks very happy. The two of us have become good friends. Well, good friend! Chihiro, who saw her before me, seemed to have become one with the little aunt.For the little girl who cried and yelled: I want a sister every time I bullied her, she must have felt that her dream had come true in an unexpected way! She plans to find an apartment right away, and she will live with us until she finds a house, so bear with me for a while. In other words, the little aunt will temporarily live with our family.For me and my sister, it was a rare visitor, but it was a happy event, but my mother's tone seemed very guilty.It must be that grandma said something ugly to her behind our backs! But after dinner, while my aunt was leaving, my mother called me into the kitchen and said this wonderful remark: Chihiro is still young so I can't help it, but you are already in the second grade.So let me warn you first, Si, it's okay to play with the little aunt, it's better not to get too much with her! That really didn't sound like something my mother would say.Normally, my mother would nag me at every turn, telling me to get along well with others, but now she said the exact opposite, so of course I immediately asked: Why? I tell you My mother seemed to want to say something, but maybe she thought that I, who was only eight years old, could not understand it, so she inadvertently kept her mouth shut and frowned. No why.Occasionally, you should obey what your mother says honestly. At that time, my mother probably wanted to tell me about the strength of my aunt. If so, her judgment was sound.No matter how much he explained, it was impossible to easily believe in that wonderful power.Even now, after thirty-four years have passed, I still feel half asleep. 2 Witnessing the incredible strength of the little aunt was a few days later on Saturday. That day, when I came back from school, my sister was crying in the room. What's the matter with you, Xiaoqian? Chihiro suddenly raised her head when she heard my question, and saw that she fell silent for a moment, and immediately raised her voice to complain as if rebounding: Aunt Meizhihui said, I look like a little Ah Fu! Little Ah Fu?You mean the one in the newspaper cartoon? The so-called Xiao Fu, of course, refers to the comic characters drawn by Ryuichi Yokoyama serialized in the Mainichi Shimbun at that time.The shape of wearing a student hat is very cute, I like it very much In the shopping street in front of the station just now, my mother bought me a hat, but my aunt laughed at it like a little Ah Fu. What my sister showed me while talking was a white newsboy cap.It is round and has a small brim. It is a cute hat.My sister, who now runs a small boutique, loved dressing up since she was a child. Even I knew that she had been pestering her mother to buy her that hat long ago. The little aunt should mean that you are as cute as a little Ah Fu!She is complimenting you. However, Xiao Fu is a boy. Although she is only five years old, a woman's heart is delicate after all, no matter how cute she is, being regarded as a boy still seems to be a big blow to her.Since the little aunt is also a woman, logically speaking, she should be able to understand it. I stood up for my sister and went to my parents' room to ask my aunt to protest.Because I know that once my sister starts crying, it will be endless, and if I don't do this, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with it. Xiaoqian is really a troublesome kid. After listening to what I said, the little aunt spat from the bottom of her heart as if she was bored. It is so fragile that it is impossible to survive in Osaka! However, this is Tokyo. After I answered that, the little aunt stared at me indifferently with terrifying eyes. It's only been a few days since I came to my house, and I already quite understand the nature of my little aunt.She was quite peaceful for the first two days, but after a long time, she gradually revealed her true colors. Anyone in the family could have guessed that the grandma really didn't get along with the little aunt.Both of them are the kind of good-natured people who like to talk about other people's affairs and live under the same roof. This combination is simply incompatible. I hate Kansai accent, it sounds sticky. The day after the little aunt came, grandma declared so at the dinner table.However, the aunt's counterattack was even more vicious: According to me, the Tokyo dialect is cold!It sounds cold and arrogant, as if cutting it in half with a kitchen knife.I can't help but think, what's the fuss about it!I really thought I was an onion! Are you talking about me? no no.This is just a so-called generalization.ah!Do you understand the term general overview? I was already worried just listening to it, but the most disturbing thing was probably my mother!Because she had to prevent her younger sister who didn't know how to recognize her position from running out of control, and she had to find a way to please her mother-in-law. Mei Zhihui, show me a little bit of understanding! The mother interrupted, and slapped the little aunt on the back of the head like a cross talk partner. As a result, within a few days of Aunt Meizhihui's arrival, her mother ordered her not to leave her parents' room unless something happened.This is a bitter plan to reduce her contact with grandma. Grandma usually stays in the living room all day, so my aunt can't even watch TV, so I can only rely on me to go to the bookstore to borrow comics for her to pass the time.My aunt likes to read manga that boys read, and she seems to like "The Magic Ball of the Oath" and "Iga's Kagemaru". Anyway, go and apologize to Xiaoqian!Otherwise, she will cry all day. Why should I apologize. Even for children, Aunt Meizhihui is also desperate for face.Women are creatures, no matter how old they are. I thought to myself, who was only eight years old. She's really like Little Ah Fu, so I'm just telling the truth. Xiao Fu is a boy, Xiao Qian just doesn't want to be compared with boys! so troublesome. The little aunt muttered in her mouth, picked up a High Light and lit it with a match. I can't help it.It's impossible for me to apologize, but I can coax her. After the cigarette slowly turned to ashes, the aunt said helplessly. How to coax? Show her interesting magic, you go and call Xiaoqian. I thought to myself that it must be a magic show, so I half-coaxed and brought my sister, who was still muttering and complaining. Are you ready?Next I'm going to show you something fun, but you can't tell your friends.Also, don't tell dad and grandma. After such an exhortation, the little aunt looked out of the window and looked at the backyard of a ping and a half.Finally, I stared at a pot of morning glory that was almost dead in the shadows, and instructed me with my chin as usual: A Si, go and get that pot of dejected morning glory. That's a morning glory that I plant occasionally on a whim.With good care it should have sprouted, but maybe because I was lazy and didn't water it, it almost withered.The vines wrapped around the pillars were also turning brown, and it was impossible to hope for flower buds. I don't mean to be defensive, but for me at the time, morning glory was too common to see. Iriya Kishimojin Shrine, which is very close to my home, holds a morning glory market every Tanabata, and every road is filled with potted morning glory.Maybe it's because I've been used to seeing that kind of scene since I remember things, which strengthened the perception that morning glory can be seen everywhere and is a very humble flower.Therefore, it is inevitable to neglect care.However, it still sounds like sophistry anyway! What are you doing with this? I brought potted plants from the backyard, placed them on the tatami mats covered with newspapers, and asked. Don't worry, take off the dry leaves first. I followed the directions and removed the completely dry leaves.My younger sister is still puffing her face angrily, but she seems very interested in the magic that the little aunt said, and picks the leaves together with me. Ok?Look carefully! Kneeling and sitting in front of the cleaned morning glory, the little aunt used the thumb and index finger of her right hand to pick up the vine near the root.Then take a deep breath, hold your breath and close your eyes. ah! In just a few seconds, my sister and I, who witnessed that scene, exclaimed almost at the same time. It's really magical! Yes, that really can only be considered magic.The already withered morning glory vines were dyed green in a blink of an eye, and the tips began to move like living things, no, they began to grow. New leaves keep popping up! It's like the kind of science report programs that often broadcast, and quickly play the video of the plant's growth process.In the blink of an eye, the front end of the vine has grown to nearly 30 centimeters, wrapping around the pillar like a small snake.The shriveled leaves regained their rigidity like spreading out crumpled paper, and the originally dry and brown parts on the edge were swallowed up and disappeared by the new green. Little aunt, what's going on? Didn't I say it was magic?Don't look at the little aunt like this, I am actually a magician! As I speak, the morning glory continues to grow.I saw fresh green spikes protruding from the roots of the leaves, which swelled up in a blink of an eye and turned into pale white flower buds with cyan spiral stripes. That should be enough for now! The little aunt said and let go of her fingers.The morning glory, which was swaying like a living thing, suddenly stopped moving as if it just remembered that it was a plant. Xiaoqian, look.This is the bud that will bloom tomorrow.Just put it back in a sunny spot in the yard and it will bloom tomorrow morning. The little aunt pointed to the biggest bud and smiled. At this time, my sister seemed to have forgotten about little Ah Fu.I don't know whether it's admiration or respect, and the watery eyes are staring at the little aunt who has her hair up. Mother!Mom, did you hear that? Suddenly, my sister stood up and shouted.When a five-year-old encounters a situation that he cannot understand, it is only natural that he wants to notify his parents!The little aunt hurriedly tried to stop her, but it was too late, and the younger sister rushed to the kitchen where the mother was. Ah, I'm about to be scolded by my elder sister again! The little aunt said in a bored tone while reaching for a cigarette. Hey, is this really magic? In fact, it's not hey, it's my talent! When the little aunt answered me with a smile, my mother rushed into the room with a soup ladle in one hand.Perhaps it was because of his outrage, that his face was flushed red. Mei Zhihui, what the hell are you doing! Hearing the Kansai dialect coming out of my mother's mouth, I thought the situation was really serious.Because when grandma was at home, mother should have completely sealed the Kansai dialect. Show the brats what's the matter. You are really your child, why are you casually revealing such an important thing? As the mother spoke, she burst into tears. 3 It's been about a week since then!The little aunt left our house. But she didn't go back to Osaka, but rented an apartment about ten minutes' walk away.At the same time, I also started working in a coffee shop near the subway Iriya Station, so it can be said that I started living in Tokyo seriously. However, the mother is not happy to see the little aunt living alone. She seems to be seriously considering keeping the little aunt by her side as much as possible.It may seem a little overprotective for a grown woman past the age of twenty-five, but it's all because of her special talent. That child, I think she is still lonely after all. In the future, whenever Aunt Meizhihui was mentioned, my mother would always say that. He obviously has such incredible power, but he is more affectionate than ordinary people. I don’t know if there is a God or a Bodhisattva. In short, He is too cruel. Is the little aunt really trying not to love others? Maybe there are also such factors!To like others is tantamount to fatal to her. If this is the case, did the little aunt at that time deliberately put on that disgusting attitude?Then, her poisonous tongue is not difficult to understand. Ah, that's not it. When I said this, my mother answered decisively. The child's bad temper was born.She was that virtue long before she discovered that ability. Every time I hear my mother say that, I don't know whether to cry or laugh.Regardless of whether she has that kind of power or not, Aunt Meizhihui is indeed Aunt Meizhihui. The incredible talent of the little aunt was a secret that only my mother and I knew at that time. Even if she said it, grandma probably wouldn't be able to understand it, and father probably wouldn't believe it at all!Although my younger sister knows it now, she was still too young at that time.My mother said that if it is possible, it is best not to know, but the little aunt revealed it by herself, so there is nothing I can do. Ash, come with me. The day my little aunt revived the dead morning glory in the yard, my mother asked me to accompany her to buy materials for dinner.I thought it was probably to ask me to help her get a one-liter soy sauce bottle or a wine bottle, but my mother didn't buy either.Not only that, she also bought me popsicles from the bakery in the shopping street. After we sat side by side on a bench in a nearby park, she told me the secret of my little aunt. What I want to say now, you must not tell others because it is related to the life of the little aunt. The mother's unusually serious expression made me very nervous.However, the words my mother said afterwards were too out of touch with reality. I remember that I didn't know what expression to make when I heard half of it. In fact, the little aunt is a person who can share her life with others. For a moment, I suspected that my mother was bluffing me, but no matter in the past or now, my mother is not the kind of person who would take life as a joke. I know you can't believe that every few generations in Mom's family, a girl with that power is born.I don't know why my great-grandmother's sister seems to be the same kind of person. If the mother's narration at this time is summarized, it is roughly like this People often think how nice it would be to give or take someone else's life.If their child is facing death, any parent will want to give his life to the child.If you hear someone committing suicide for a trivial matter, the person who is about to die will also murmur how good it would be if he could accept that person's life.However, in practice that is impossible.It is precisely because it is impossible that everyone will have this idea! However, that is possible for Aunt Meizhihui. The morning glory before became so vibrant because the little aunt gave it a little life.Mom added. so amazing. I can only exclaim.In fact, if anyone can do that kind of thing, it should be God! But when my mother heard me say this, she said sullenly: Ah Si, you must think that you can keep giving people infinite things, right?Just like a cow can keep milking. Cows seem to have limits too!But I did have that thought before. However, you are wrong.The amount that can be given to people is limited. Then my mother thought for a while, and tried to explain it in a way that eight-year-old me could understand: My mother hasn't seen anything about life, but you can imagine all living things as having an invisible cup.There is water in the cup, and that water is life.People drink that water bit by bit to survive.However, the amount of water varies from person to person.Some people's glass of water is full to the brim, and some people's water is only half a glass to begin with. According to the mother's explanation, the so-called fate may be something like a predestined lifespan or vitality. Sad to say, but we can't increase the water in the cup, we can only let it dwindle and perhaps slow down the decline, but we can't take it from others.Of course, it cannot be given to others. But the little aunt can, right? Yes.I don't know why, but she can pour water into other people's cups anyway.However, if she gave it to someone else, her own water would decrease, right? Listening to my mother's careful explanation, I finally understood that although it is quite difficult for the mind of an eight-year-old child. In other words, if the life is distributed to others, the little aunt's life will be relatively reduced? That's it.And only God can see the contents of the cup.How much water is in my cup, I can't see it. I felt a chill run down my back as I understood what that meant. If the life given to Morning Glory was actually the last drop of water in the little aunt's cup, then the moment she gave it out, the little aunt would So, she can't use that power.It's best for her to completely forget about that weird power and live a normal life. Mother was right.If it's such a dangerous power, it's really not as good as not having it in the first place. So, if she wants to use that power in front of you, you must stop her! For this sentence, I deeply agree. 4 Even now, thirty-four years later, I can't help but smile when I think of the time I spent with my little aunt. As expected of a Kansai native, she has a cheerful nature.Although the tongue is poisonous, my sister and I have already been trained to be patient by grandma.Besides, as long as you get used to it, you will even find her venomous tongue very funny. The little aunt works in a coffee shop near Iriya Station. When she is on the morning shift three times a week, she can leave work at six o'clock.On days like that, she would definitely come to my house on a second-hand red bicycle she bought.Although it was to have dinner together, the mother must also be using this to protect the little aunt! Grandma still has a bad look towards her, but the sense of distance between them seems to be gradually shortening, and there are no longer unnecessary quarrels as before (but not completely).The two even drink tea and chat with each other sometimes. I think their relationship will be better after a while. Also, there is no TV in the little aunt's residence, so I am looking forward to coming to my house to watch TV.I remember that she also watched the scene of the first man landing on the moon at my house, but she prefers singing shows to news shows, and funny shows are her favorite.Especially when the legendary comedy variety show "Juquan."Ninety Minutes of Comedy Comedy Before Wu", the little aunt always laughs unsteadily in front of the TV with our brothers and sisters.Of course, you have to imitate the classic lines of the show: ah!Scary to death, for Goro It’s just that her belly laughing appearance certainly impressed me deeply, but what imprinted even more strongly on her mind was her side face with watery eyes when she heard Shintani Noriko sing the song “Francia’s Occasion” while watching a singing show: Francina is so stupid, wouldn't there be no drama after death? I remembered that my little aunt would mutter like this every time she heard the sad melody coming from the TV. The song "The Occasion of Francina" is about protesting against the Vietnam War and the famine in the Republic of Biafra (Republic of Biafra). In March of that year (of course, as mentioned in the lyrics, it was on the 30th Sunday) he set himself on fire and died in Paris. Francina.Francine Lecomte, a female student, must have been touched by the little aunt! Asi and Xiaoqian, you all have to remember.In this world, there is nothing more serious than death.Even if it is suffering, you can forget it after a long time.So no matter what, don’t commit suicide! More than half of the words that came out of my aunt's mouth were laughing, cursing or poisonous tongue.This is the only time she admonished like an elder.Unfortunately, my sister and I were too young to understand at all. (It would be great if the little aunt could stay at our house all the time.) After such a happy time together, unconsciously, I began to think so. It would be great if the little aunt could return the apartment and live with our family as before.If not, at least it’s good to show up every day, because as long as I don’t see each other for a day, the things I want to say to my little aunt will pile up in my heart. Maybe at that time, I already had a feeling of admiration for my little aunt. As long as I see my little aunt's face, I feel very happy. Just being together, time itself, which should be invisible to the naked eye, seems to be shining brightly.When walking side by side with my little aunt, I will be even more inexplicably proud, and I can't help but want to show off: This person is my little aunt! So far.I still kind of hate Mr. Soma's boyfriend who came all the way from Osaka to pick up my aunt. The man's visit came on a windy Saturday before Christmas. I was playing vault with a group of playmates on the road in front of my house.Although it will be disturbed by passing vehicles from time to time, games that can move your body are the best when the weather is cold. Si, it looks like you have a guest at your house. When I was playing vigorously, my playmate beside me patted me on the back to remind me.As a horse, I stretched my neck between the legs of the horse in front and looked towards the door of the house. Standing there was a man in his thirties with a well-fitting suit.While pushing up his black-rimmed glasses, he compared the note in his hand with my house's number plate.Carrying a paper bag that looked like a gift in his hand. This is my home, who are you looking for? Regardless of my playmate's fall, I straightened up and asked that person. Little brother, are you a child of this family? The man speaks in an authentic Kansai accent.The moment I heard it, I had a bad premonition. Is there a Ms. Michie here? That is my little aunt. After I puffed up my chest and answered, I heard the man mutter a little yes. is she there now The little aunt is not there but my parents are. Dad, who only works half a day on Saturday, has already returned home, and he should be relaxing at the kotatsu at the moment. Well, I want to meet your dad. Uncle, who are you? My surname is Soma, uh, I'm Miss Michie's friend!I'm from Osaka. I am sure that my ominous premonition has come true. Since I made a special trip from Osaka to visit, it is impossible to be just ordinary friends.I'd love to get him out if I could, but sadly little kids don't have that kind of power.I could only go home and tell my father reluctantly. Father asked Mr. Soma to go in and listen to him with his mother.I ignored the complaints of my playmates and sneaked away from the vaulting game, quietly pretending to be playing games in the children's room, and eavesdropping on their conversation from behind the sliding door. To me, Mr. Soma is indeed the most unwelcome guest. Mr. Soma works as a firefighter at Tenjinbashi in Osaka. It is said that he met his aunt when she was working in a nearby restaurant.Mr. Soma regarded his little aunt as his girlfriend, but for some reason, as soon as he proposed, the little aunt disappeared. Why Mei Zhihui suddenly disappeared, I really don't understand.Uncles and aunts clearly agreed to our marriage. Just based on the words and attitudes I heard, Mr. Soma seems to be as cheerful as the little aunt, and even several times more frank than her. If she expresses that she doesn't like me, then I have nothing to say.Since it is Mei Zhihui's choice, I can only accept it even if I am reluctant.But I couldn't stand her leaving without saying goodbye.Eldest sister and brother-in-law, have you heard anything from her? We don't know anything. Anyway, this kind of thing is up to her. Because he didn't know the inside story, his father's attitude was quite cautious. (The little aunt must hate that person.) I thought to myself while carefully eavesdropping. Although Mr. Soma looks very gentle and sensible, but there must be something wrong!That's why the little aunt couldn't bear to run away. I thought I knew it so well. That night, there was obviously a fun TV show, but the little aunt didn't come to my house to report. The mother took Mr. Soma to find the little aunt. It is said that the three had a long talk. I don't know what conclusion they finally came to.Later, Mr. Soma took the last Shinkansen back to Osaka alone.After hearing from my mother, I was greatly relieved. (Little aunt will not go back to Osaka!) I was a little jealous of Mr. Soma when I met him for the first time, and while lying in bed, I dreamed of the never-ending happy life with my little aunt. 5 A few days after Mr. Soma's visit, it started to rain even though it was the end of the year. My mother was busy in the kitchen early in the morning, but I still mustered up the courage to ask her why the little aunt ran away after the other party proposed?Is it because you don't like that person? I asked this because I wanted to reassure myself, but my mother's answer was far beyond my childish expectations: Do you still remember that your mother once warned you not to get too close to your little aunt? My mother didn't stop busy preparing the New Year's dishes, so she said. Well, I remember but, why ask? At the time, I thought that was really not something my mother would say.But later, no matter how close I was to my little aunt, my mother never said a word.Presumably that did not come from her heart! Once the child likes someone else, it will be very troublesome.That's what kills that's why, you know? I can only wonder.Things between men and women are still too early for eight-year-old children. Because of that kind of power, sooner or later, I can't help but want to share my life with the person I like. Ah, why? Asi, you may not understand now.However, you might as well think about it.Suppose you had the power of your little aunt, and there was a puppy or kitten dying in front of you, what would you do? Through this assumption, I finally understood. If I had the strength of my little aunt, if a puppy or kitten was about to die in front of me, maybe I couldn't help but share my life with the puppy or cat. Aunt Meizhihui, she!Although she pretends to be indifferent, she is actually a very gentle person.She has great compassion for others. While chopping things up with a kitchen knife, my mother calmly uttered terrifying words. Therefore, if the firefighter is fatally injured at work, the little aunt will definitely give her life to the other party. The fact that my little aunt really likes Mr. Soma shocked me a lot, but this kind of fateful encounter with my little aunt terrified me even more. No matter who you are, sometimes you will long for how good it would be if you could share your life with others.It was precisely because I couldn't actually do it that I blurted out that kind of thing.But what if, like little auntie, you really have that kind of power? It sounds cold-blooded, but unless he stays in the mountains and sees no one, the child will never live long.She can't get involved with anyone, and she can't fall in love with anyone. After the mother finished speaking, she stopped suddenly.I looked up and saw big teardrops dripping on the chopping board.It turned out that the mother was crying silently. I couldn't hold back any longer and rushed out of the house.Although it was raining outside, the sky was inexplicably clear. Although it was the end of the year, it was not too cold. (Aunt Meizhihui!) I suddenly wanted to see my little aunt, so I ran towards her apartment.I was only in the second grade of elementary school at the time, but I already understood the way of survival of the little aunt, so I had to choose one of the two: ∮ Going hand in hand with someone expecting that sooner or later you will give your life. or Love no one, live alone. # The option of staying with someone for a lifetime but not sharing your life with the other party does not exist for the little aunt.Because she is not the kind of person who knows that she has a way to save people, but sees the pain of the one she loves.Sooner or later, the little aunt will choose to give her life! Isn't this Ash! On the way to the apartment, while crossing the alley, someone called me from behind.Turning around and looking, I saw the little aunt holding a flower umbrella, showing up from the alley. Why did you come here without an umbrella? Look at you, you're all wet. The little aunt raised the umbrella to my head and said.She's not the kind of polite person who carries a handkerchief with her, so she pats me on the head to wipe the raindrops off my hair. I'm going to your house now!Tonight, there are ninety minutes of hilarious laughter. 小阿姨不懂我的心事，猶自笑得開朗。這時，我看到巷子的電線桿後頭，放了一個小小的褐色箱子。 啊，那個啊是被人拋棄的貓吧！ 察覺我的視線，小阿姨帶我走到箱子附近。那是印有零食名稱的紙箱，裡面有一隻雪白的小貓虛弱地縮成一團，渾身被雨淋濕，正在微微地顫抖。 在這種季節的下雨天扔在外面，真是魔鬼，簡直不是人。 這個意見，我完全贊成。箱子裡放了一撮小魚乾，是自以為溫情的表現嗎？ 這傢伙，還是早點死掉比較幸福。 小阿姨說著，像對待易碎物品般抱起小貓。小貓以嘶啞的聲音喵了一聲。 （如果我有小阿姨那種力量，眼前有一隻小狗或小貓快要死了。） 剛剛還在想的念頭，再次竄過我的腦中。 little aunt 回神時，小阿姨已抱著小貓，閉眼屏息。就像她上次讓牽牛花復活時那樣。右手的指尖，抵在小貓的肚子底下。 不行，妳不能把命分給牠！ 我不禁大叫，小阿姨微微睜開一隻眼微笑。 怎麼，阿司你已經知道啦！一定是我老姊吧她叫人家閉嘴，自己卻那麼大嘴巴。 在這期間，我發現本來快要闔眼的小貓，眼中又恢復強烈的光芒。就在那一刻，小貓得到了小阿姨分享的生命。 沒辦法，我畢竟是人。 過了一會，小阿姨撫摸小貓的頭這麼說著。剛才嘶啞微弱的聲音彷彿是場夢，如今小貓叫得強而有力。 哈哈，牠在討東西吃呢！ 小阿姨拿臉頰摩挲恢復活力的小貓，用快活的聲音說。 那時我在想小阿姨不是人。她其實是神一時心血來潮送到人間的，性格有點惡劣的天使。 又過了二個多月之後，小阿姨就將公寓退租回大阪去了。相馬先生特地來接她，二人恩愛地一起離開東京。 小阿姨當初一定是無法向自己的宿命妥協，才會逃離相馬先生的愛情。但是，那似乎也在我不知情的情況下解決了。 下定決心的小阿姨，重新與相馬先生訂婚。我的初戀（算是吧，大概），就此無疾而終，但那也莫可奈何。不過老實說，我是挺想罵髒話的。 馬上就要辦萬國博覽會了。阿司與小千都來大阪玩嘛！我帶你們到處逛逛。 小阿姨說得很開心但結果，我們並未去參觀博覽會。因為博覽會開幕不久的四月，小阿姨就猝然去世了。 當我們趕去參加喪禮時，某個親戚說：既然都已經來了，何不去參觀一下博覽會。但我實在是提不起那股勁兒。小阿姨都已經死了，還有什麼人類的進步與和諧可言這就是我當時的心情。奶奶動不動就愛講那個親戚的壞話，唯獨這次我也很贊成。雖然那個人肯定是出於好意才這麼說的。 小阿姨去世，是在四月八日也就是花祭②的那天。 ②花祭：四月八日釋迦誕辰舉行的灌佛會，俗稱花祭。 這天傍晚，離大阪車站很近的天神橋六丁目的工地現場，發生驚人的瓦斯爆炸事故。那是號稱史上最大都市災害的天六瓦斯爆炸案。小阿姨運氣不好，正巧搬到現場附近的公寓。 那個工程好像是地下鐵的延長工程，採用了在裸露的地面孔洞上覆蓋覆工板的明挖掘工法。當那個長條形洞中充滿外漏的瓦斯之際，前來處理瓦斯外洩問題的車子馬達的火花引發了爆炸。 根據報導，重達四百公斤的水泥覆工板被炸飛了好幾百片，馬路有長達一百五十公尺都凹陷了。工作人員及路人也被炸飛，或者隨著等紅燈的汽車一起掉進洞裡。 最後共有七十九人死亡，四百二十人受傷，但小阿姨是否在這名單之中，我不確定。因為她雖然的確死在意外現場附近，死因卻是急性心功能不全。 據說她當時正在照顧受傷的小孩，結果中途突然倒下。 喪禮上，相馬先生如此說明。他身為消防隊員要負責滅火，所以好像得以知道戀人死前的詳細情況。 一定是當時情況太慘烈，所以她承受不住吧她雖然是刀子嘴，卻有顆豆腐心。 由於現場情況太過悲慘，據說也有人稱這場意外為天六地獄。也有人說當時從破裂的瓦斯管噴出二條高達十公尺的火柱。 那她當時照顧的小孩後來怎樣了？ 母親含淚這麼一問，相馬先生微微鬆開眉頭回答： 據說傷勢本來相當嚴重但小孩的生命力或許還是比較強。現在已脫離危險狀態，聽說變得很健康了。 聽到他這麼說，我和母親都無法克制地號啕大哭。至少，只有我們母子明白小阿姨把自己的命全部給了那個孩子。 小阿姨當時一定是聽到驚人的爆炸聲，連忙跑出公寓吧！之後她趕往現場，遇上奄奄一息的小孩。那孩子肯定是她不認識的小孩，但小阿姨當下已別無選擇。因為她不可能眼睜睜看著一條生命，在眼前即將喪失卻見死不救。 不過，小阿姨自己可能也沒打算把命全部給人家吧！我想她大概是把自己也不確定的杯中水，一點一滴的，慎重分給對方。 應該可以再給一點吧！再一點點再給一點點就好。 她當時肯定是這麼想的。 對，說來說去，小阿姨就是這種大而化之，不懂得拿捏分寸的人。 我怕引起騷動所以一直不敢說小阿姨在下雨天救活的那隻小貓，後來取了為五郎這個一點也不可愛的名字，從此，變成我家養的貓。 之後，已過了三十四年如今牠依然健在。