Cruel Summer

March through June was just as rough. Kunimatsu was nearly killed in March. A bomb went off in the men’s room at Terminal 2 of New Tokyo International Airport in Narita. That was in May. Good news was they caught Aum Shinrikyo’s leader, Ashara Shoko. The country could rest easy now. However, that wouldn’t last.

Meanwhile, Momma sat on a secret. She couldn’t keep it much longer. Toshiki had to know the truth. She called him into the living room on one summer evening.

“You wanted to see me?” he asked. Momma sat on the couch.

“Please sit down,” she said. The veteran didn’t know where this was going. He sat down next to her. Toshiki had never seen her with a stern look on her face.

“What? What’s wrong? Did something happen?” he asked. Momma folded her hands in her lap.

“I have to tell you something,” she said.

“What?” Toshiki asked. Momma took her time to form her words.

“You’ve noticed that my daughter is not a normal girl, yes?” she spoke up.

“Yes…” Toshiki said. Momma lifted her chin.

“There is a reason for that,” she said. She replayed the details in her head.  She and Poppa never spoke about it.

“Yumi…” she said. “She… She…” Momma pressed her lips together.

“Yumi died a while back,” she said in a quiet voice.

“What?” Toshiki asked. This had to be a joke. This was a joke, right?

Momma looked serious. The veteran stared at her.

“It happened eleven years ago,” she said. “We were on a family vacation. My husband took us to the lake. At the time, Yumi-chan had learned how to swim. Shallow water, of course. She wore her little floaties.” She clenched her fists in her lap.

“It wasn’t supposed to be out so far. I… I…” She took a breath.

“I took my eyes off for two seconds. When I looked up, I… I couldn’t see where she went. I screamed as we looked for her.” Momma began to tremble. She pressed her lips together again.

“My husband and I looked for her all night. He called the police.”

“Taira-san…”

“No!” Momma held up her hand. Toshiki went quiet. She looked ready to cry.

“They found her body on the shore. Miles away.” Remembering made it hurt. She lifted her chin.

“So what happened? How…?”

“How is she still alive?”

“Yeah.”

“An angel.”

“What?”

Momma looked up. “I know it sounds crazy. But I saw it. I had a moment alone with Yumi. Suddenly, a pale, glowing hand rested on her forehead.” She moved her hand in an airy way.

“My memory gets hazy, but she, I think it was a she, she said one thing.”

“What was that?”

Momma shook her head. “I don’t remember.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I know how she feels about you.”

“What?”

Momma took him by the hand. “There is someone looking for you. She’s merged with my daughter’s soul.” Toshiki froze. She was looking for him? He didn’t know what to make of this.