It works in Keisuke Matsuyama's case.
It happened more than ten years ago.
I was at a bar in Shinjuku.
It served Keisuke Matsuyama to move to the countryside.
Sure.
But Sakamoto? He could care less where he goes.
It's important to actually visit the places you write about.
Excuse me, a second.
This friend named Igarashi
said, "Excuse me, a second," before leaving to use the restroom
and never came back.
Had I said something to offend him?
Before I was able to ask,
Igarashi left this world.
And just like that,
the people I thought I could call friendsleft my life one by one.
BAR LIGHTHOUSE
She dined and dashed like it was nothing, but somehow he just accepted it.
Right. She didn't even hesitate.
She says, "Is your wallet in your pocket?" And he goes, "Oh, sure."
She must be a serial offender.
- She seemed like she was used to it. - Give me a break, will you?
Just because you're not her target...
Well, we saw a fully grown adult get pushed around and robbed.
She could've been lying about being her older sister.
Yes, but...
my girlfriend sent the same message to me and her.
So it must've been from her.
That can only mean that they're related.
Maybe the sender was an impostor.
Someone else could have sent the message.
- An accomplice of that woman. - That's a possibility.
You sure are dense for a mystery writer.
You don't have access to the GPS feature on your girlfriend's phone?
I don't know. She has to have it set to share.
You didn't have family sharing on, right?
Family sharing?
Then you can't track her.
So even devices won't help find someone who's not family.
- I don't know about that. - Yes, that's not what we mean.
What if you ask around with her friends?
Oh Mito, you're here.
She can't just up and leave.
I think she would've told her friends or at least opened up to them
before taking off like that.
Friends?
Did I say something odd?
These people don't have many friends.
It becomes harder to make friends the older you get.
Aren't you all friends?
Can we call it that?
If that's what you want...
- It feels kind of gross. - What about you?
Do you have any friends?
Probably not.
That's an awfully direct question.
But you did when you were younger, right?
Yes. But before I knew it, they were all gone.
Do you know any of her friends' phone numbers?
Actually, I've never even met them.
You two dated for five years.
I'm aware that she had some close friends.
But why would I know them?
What sort of friends are we talking about?
Old classmates? Airsoft teammates?
Not sure.
But you know, I would bring her here.
You don't mind playing a home game, but not an away one.
That's not what I'm saying.
I'd be pretty hurt if my girlfriend was that disinterested in me.
It's not that I'm disinterested.
What do you know about her then?
Well,
she's a kindergarten teacher.
Oh, really? So you're both "Sensei."
And then... that's right.
I know her favorite food.
What is it?
- Bread. - Salted noodles.
- Wait, say it again? - Bread.
That's pretty broad.
- She likes salted noodles. - I think so too.
I've seen her order that a few times.
In the first place,
how did you two even meet?
Right here.
They met by the restroom.
- Right? - Guess so.
The restroom?
She had an overactive bladder.
She would fight with Fuku over who gets to go.
I was drinking here
and she was breaking up with her boyfriend at that table.
She'd take a lot of bathroom breaks
and her boyfriend left before they were through.
I happened to see it all unfold.
Wow, that's kind of romantic.
Is it?
-She flushed her ex and stepped out -Here you go.
Only to run into her next man. Isn't that convenient?
Maybe an energy stream runs through here.
Why don't you make that part of your marketing?
- The god of restrooms? - Exactly, that'd work.
Spiritual stuff sells.
You'll get bad karma. Sounds like a curse.
Anyway, you should at least ask her coworkers about her.
She has to have had a few close friends at work.
Her ex
summarized their three-year relationshipand then said, "Let's break up."
That wasn't what she wanted,
but her bladder wasn't able to hold it inany longer.
That's when she made a runto the bathroom.
A few minutes later, when she stepped out refreshed,
he was already gone.
There was one 10,000 yen billwedged under the coaster.
DON'T YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS?
CAFÉ MERMAID
We want to know her current location.
I'm sorry, but the last time we saw herwas the end of October.
Can you tell me more about her last day at work?
That's infringing on her privacy.
I'm sorry, but are you her family?
I am, yes.
Not exactly family.
- I was... - Fiancé.
Right. I'm her fiancé.
- Oh, is that right? - Yes.
- Will this evening work? - Is that okay?
- Yes. - Okay. See you tonight.
- Talk to you then. - Bye.
How did it go?
I'll go talk to them in the evening.
Thank you so much.
I lost my composure when I called them.
This is tasty.
This cafe's food is pretty good.
It's not too good either.
I get what you mean.
People don't want to eat decadent food every day.
Exactly.
Let me fill your cup.
- Your food is very good. - Oh, thank you so much.
Rice gratin wasn't around when I was a child.
I'm sure it existed back then too.
But I never tried it until I was an adult.
Do you come here often?
Almost daily. I consider it my study.
I can't focus at home, you know?
Writers are odd.
They come to cafes when others are at work.
I'm working too though.
You're right. I'm sorry.
I've never met a writer before.
It's fine.
That's why it took me by surprise.
I thought she had a more ordinary relationship.
I'm pretty ordinary.
Maybe too ordinary.
What did you think of her?
It's hard to say.
She's completely different from me.
She listens to trendy music.
She reads self-improvement books.
One time, she made me get in line to buy tapioca drinks.
Our parents passed away when we were young.
It's always been just the two of us.
I never imagined losing contact like this.
I guess it's much easier than I thought.
COLLECTION ENVELOPE AMOUNT
Her sister's words resonated with me.
When I was younger,
I, too, never imagined the peoplearound me would be gone one day.
Had Igarashi been alive,
would we still be friends?
CHILDREN ON BOARD WATCH OUT FOR CHILDREN
WADAI PRESCHOOL
Hello.
You're it!
Sorry, coming through.
Even a Tupperware dish with food would be fine.
What about a tray?
Great. Anything you can bring works.
- See you tomorrow. Bye! - Bye.
- Hello. - Hello.
Sorry, which class?
I'm not here for pick up. I gave you a call earlier.
About the missing teacher.
Oh, you're the lead teacher's fiancé.
Please come in.
Here are some slippers.
FRIENDS
See you tomorrow.
It sure is cold today.
This is him.
Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. I spoke to you over the phone.
- I'm the principal, Momoyama. - Sorry, you must be busy.
It's fine.
Like I told you over the phone,
she suddenly said she wanted to quit.
She hasn't contacted us since.
I see.
Were any of the other teachers close with her?
I don't think so.
They didn't even know that she was engaged.
Was there any trouble? Is that why she quit?
Well, it wasn't a big deal,
but we had a Halloween event last month.
For Halloween?
It was a social gathering with the local community invited.
Each class chose an act, like singing or jumping rope.
Her class chose to put on a play, Momotaro the Peach Boy.
But then,
multiple parents of children who didn't get the main role
complained to us.
I guess they're what they call "monster parents" these days.
Making them happy kept her very busy.
In the end,
all the students, boys and girls, played Momotaro.
Pretty funny, right?
What about the monkey and the pheasant?
We have a parrot. That's the pheasant.
My pet played the dog.
Her name's Nana.
And the monkey?
We rented a robot from the local hardware shop.
- Who played the demon? - I did.
- What? - She and that teacher were the demons.
But she took off during the middle of the play.
She said she was going to the bathroom.
The bathroom?
We couldn't believe it. She left and never came back.
When she finally answered her phone that night,
she said that would be her last day.
Was it really her?
It was her.
Maybe she grew tired of it all.
She made all the costumes and spoke to each parent.
It really is difficult to get along with the parents.
From teaching how to use chopsticks, to potty training...
BUCKETS, PLATES, BLOCKS, ICE CREAM
- Thank you for today. - It's fine.
I hope you find her soon.
Excuse me then.
That's a lie.
She didn't quit because of the parents.
Then why?
I'll be done soon. Can you meet me at the cafe by the station?
EDITOR SAWADA
- Welcome. - Hello.
- Thanks for waiting. - Sorry, I know you just got off.
It's fine. Have you eaten already?
It was more than just the parents who came to see the play.
Elderly from the neighborhood, people working in the area...
Teachers who quit over the summer came too.
Teachers who quit?
Didn't she tell you?
All the teachers, except her, quit over the summer.
Why?
Our kindergarten had terrible work conditions and management problems.
All the staff united and said they'd quit if working conditions didn't improve.
- You mean they went on strike? - Guess so.
I don't know much about it,
but your fiancée went back to work, betraying everyone else.
In the end, the principal didn't fold.
All the teachers who protested quit the kindergarten.
It ended awkwardly.
But then, the teachers who left came to see the play.
Let's do it, let's do it
Let's go beat the demonsOn the demon island
Come join us and we'll go
Let's go, let's go
I'll follow you anywhere
I'll be your friend, now let's go
- What? - Go forward, go forward
Let's go...
- Teacher! - Teacher!
I guess she didn't know how to face them.
She was really shaken.
Why did she go to work, even if it meant betraying everyone?
I don't know.
But she's like that, don't you think?
If the teachers want her to go on a strike, she will.
If the principal tells her to come to work, she'll do that too.
You didn't hear about any of this?
We didn't talk about our work.
Do you ask her questions?
If you don't show interest, you can't say she didn't tell you.
If my girlfriend had something bad happen to her at work,
I'd at least hear her out.
We'd eat good food and have a party roasting the culprit.
- I see. - Then we'd order desserts
and find out what we can about the jerk. We'd think of ways to get even.
Excuse me.
That's awful!
At that point, I saw red and poured coffee on them!
- Good choice. - Right?
Oh, here are your enchiladas and tacos.
Can we get extra plates? For sharing.
Actually, your companion just left.
Hello?
What? Hello?
What? Who is this?
It's me, Igarashi.
Igarashi? What?
Didn't you die?
What?
- What are you saying? - But...
I heard that you passed away.
I asked around for your family's number.
No, that wasn't me. That was him, you know?
I forgot his name.
Sorry, didn't mean to call you. Bye.
Hello?
Hello, this is Sawada.
- About your manuscript... - Sawada.
I think I can cook something up.
If tenderness sweet as a lie
Drives you madThen don't be afraid to tell me
If you'll caress me, let's not rush
We'll press the love and the wounds
Into our hearts, into our hearts
I'm all right, I inhale a deep breath
Like nothing matters
Dull clouds, a gentle breeze
Don't try to say it's all a joke
If you want to fulfill me
Then look into my heart
If yearning sweet as a lie
Drives you madThen don't be afraid to tell me
Don't let the chilled flower wilt
Your love and wounds
Show them to meShow them to me now
Silence now, my heart
We'll leave out the excuses
Look up and the sky is clear
Don't close your eyes
If you want to be fulfilled
Then look into my heart
Yes, look into my heart
As crooked as it may be
If tenderness sweet as a lie
Drives you mad
Then don't be afraid to tell me
If you'll caress me, let's not rush
We'll press the love and the wounds
Into our hearts, into our hearts
Thank you for listening.
"I swear I will come for you."
If fans feel connected to you through social media,
you can expand your fanbase.
Is social media usually this disturbing?
No one's taking it seriously.
I hope she's not embroiledin something dangerous.
Translated by Megumi Hunter